Shloka 41

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मबुद्ध्या तदैक्यं च सोहं भावनया जपेत् । तानेव ब्रह्मरंध्रादौ कायाद्बाह्ये च भावयेत्

Transliteration

brahmabuddhyā tadaikyaṃ ca sohaṃ bhāvanayā japet | tāneva brahmaraṃdhrādau kāyādbāhye ca bhāvayet

Translation

以“（湿婆）即梵（Brahman）”之智，应观与彼合一，并以心默诵“索含（So’ham）”之觉知。又当观此同一实相于梵孔（brahmarandhra，顶门）之处，并在身内与身外皆现。

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मबुद्ध्या: with the understanding (that it is) Brahman
• ब्रह्मबुद्ध्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma-buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणि बुद्धिः/ब्रह्मविषया बुद्धिः)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ऐक्यम्: oneness/identity
• ऐक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aikya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सः: he/I (that)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aham (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• भावनया: by contemplation/meditation
• भावनया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāvanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; साधन/रीति-अर्थे

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तान्: those (them)
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• ब्रह्मरन्ध्रादौ: in the brahmarandhra and the like
• ब्रह्मरन्ध्रादौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma-randhra-ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः रन्ध्रम्) + आदि-समासान्त; ‘in/at the brahmarandhra etc.’

• कायात्: from the body
• कायात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन

• बाह्ये: externally/outside
• बाह्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; स्थान-अर्थे

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• भावयेत्: should contemplate/visualize
• भावयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) [णिच्: भावय]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s method of inner worship to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: सोऽहम् (so’ham)

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches internal Shiva-upasana: realizing Shiva as Brahman and dissolving limited individuality through the contemplative japa of ‘So’ham,’ leading the seeker toward liberation (moksha).

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

While Linga worship supports Saguna devotion, this verse points to its inner culmination—recognizing the same Shiva as the all-pervading Brahman, meditated upon within the subtle body and beyond all form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A meditative japa (manasa-japa) of ‘So’ham’ with bhavana, visualizing Shiva-consciousness at the brahmarandhra (crown) and as pervading the entire body and the space beyond.