Shloka 36

प्रणवार्थपद्धतिवर्णनम्

Methodical Explanation of the Meaning of Praṇava/Om

Devanagari script

आधारशक्तिमारभ्य शुद्धविद्यासनावधि । विभाव्य सर्वं मनसा स्थापयेत्परमेश्वरम्

Transliteration

ādhāraśaktimārabhya śuddhavidyāsanāvadhi | vibhāvya sarvaṃ manasā sthāpayetparameśvaram

Translation

从阿陀罗·沙克蒂（Ādhāra-Śakti）起，直至清净明知之座（Śuddha-vidyā之座），于心中观想诸原理次第圆满之后，应在禅定中于自觉之内安立至上主——帕拉梅湿伐罗（Parameśvara）。

Word by Word

• आधार-शक्तिम्: the Ādhāra-śakti
• आधार-शक्तिम्: अपादान/अधिकरण-सीमा (Starting point; semantic source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आधार (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘आधार’ = आधार-चक्र/आधार-तत्त्व सम्बन्धः

• आरभ्य: starting from
• आरभ्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial; sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √रभ् (धातु) with आ- उपसर्ग; आरभ्य (क्त्वान्त/अव्ययीभाव-प्राय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); ‘having begun from/starting from’

• शुद्ध-विद्या-आसन-अवधि: up to the Śuddhavidyā seat/stage
• शुद्ध-विद्या-आसन-अवधि: अधिकरण-सीमा (Limit/extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक) + अवधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; ‘...अवधि’ = ‘up to ...’ (limit marker)

• विभाव्य: having contemplated
• विभाव्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial; prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √भू (धातु) with वि-; विभाव्य (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund); ‘having contemplated/visualized’

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समस्त-वस्तु (the whole)

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• स्थापयेत्: should स्थापित/establish
• स्थापयेत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु) causative स्थापय-
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; causative (णिजन्त)

• परम-ईश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord
• परम-ईश्वरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shaiva yogic teaching as received in the Kailasa tradition)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches a Shaiva Siddhanta-style ascent: contemplate the full range of inner principles (tattvas) from the supporting power upward, and then culminate by fixing awareness on Parameśvara—revealing that liberation comes from establishing the Lord as the inner reality beyond all layers.

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

The verse points to internalized worship: after contemplating the cosmological and subtle hierarchy, the practitioner ‘establishes’ Shiva within. This aligns with Linga worship where the outer Linga supports inward dhyāna—moving from saguna supports (form/seat) toward the recognition of Shiva as the supreme indwelling Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A dhyāna-krama (meditative sequence): mentally traverse the tattvas from Ādhāra-Śakti up to Śuddha-vidyā and then fix the mind on Parameśvara. Practically, this pairs well with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while maintaining steady inner visualization and concentration.