Shloka 24

Śiva-Śakti Tattva, Varṇa-Rahasya, and Mahāvākya-Bhāvanā

Interpretive Discipline

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा पुनरप्याह शिवस्तत्त्वत्रयस्य च । प्राणोस्मीत्यत्र पृथ्व्यादिगुणान्तग्रहणान्मुने

Transliteration

ityuktvā punarapyāha śivastattvatrayasya ca | prāṇosmītyatra pṛthvyādiguṇāntagrahaṇānmune

Translation

如是说已，湿婆又复阐明三重实在之义。“我即是普拉那（prāṇa，生命之气）。”在此语中，噢牟尼，当知已摄尽自地大等起始之诸品质，乃至其终（即诸元素与感官属性）。

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक/इत्यादि-निर्देशक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having said)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्तिवाचक अव्यय (again)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक अव्यय (also)

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु; ‘आह’ परोक्षभूत)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तत्त्व-त्रयस्य: of the triad of tattvas
• तत्त्व-त्रयस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रयम् तत्त्वम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• प्राणः: life-breath
• प्राणः: Pratipadya (प्रातिपाद्य/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• इति: (saying) thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (here/in this context)

• पृथ्वी-आदि-गुण-अन्त-ग्रहणात्: because of the inclusion up to the qualities beginning with earth
• पृथ्वी-आदि-गुण-अन्त-ग्रहणात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथ्वी + आदि + गुण + अन्त + ग्रहण (ग्रह् धातु + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative chain), ‘ग्रहण’ = action noun

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: prāṇo'smī

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

Śiva identifies himself with prāṇa to show his immanence as the sustaining power within all embodied beings, while also teaching that the entire field of elemental qualities (from earth onward) is encompassed under his lordship—clarifying the Shaiva Siddhanta triad of Pati (Śiva), paśu (the bound soul), and pāśa (bondage through tattvas/guṇas).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

In Saguna worship, the Liṅga is revered as the visible support of the invisible Lord who pervades all. By declaring “I am prāṇa,” Śiva links inner experience (breath, life-force) with outer worship (Liṅga), teaching that Liṅga-pūjā should culminate in recognizing Śiva as the indwelling reality behind all elemental attributes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is prāṇa-centered japa and dhyāna: steady the breath, mentally offer the inhalation and exhalation to Śiva, and repeat the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplating that all bodily and elemental qualities are included and purified under Śiva’s grace.