Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 139

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

पूजयेच्च शिवं शक्तिं स शिवो मूलभावनात् । शिवभक्ताञ्छिवमंत्ररूपकाञ्छिवरूपकान्

Transliteration

pūjayecca śivaṃ śaktiṃ sa śivo mūlabhāvanāt | śivabhaktāñchivamaṃtrarūpakāñchivarūpakān

Translation

当礼拜湿婆并与圣力同奉；由对其根本实相之观修，礼拜者便趋于湿婆之性。亦当恭敬湿婆的奉献者——他们是湿婆真言之化身，亦是湿婆自身的真实形相。

Word by Word

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• śaktim: Śakti
• śaktim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• śivaḥ: (is) Śiva
• śivaḥ: Pratijñā/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• mūla-bhāvanāt: from the fundamental contemplation
• mūla-bhāvanāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (mūlasya bhāvanā)

• śiva-bhaktān: devotees of Śiva
• śiva-bhaktān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (śivasya bhaktāḥ)

• śiva-mantra-rūpakān: having the form of Śiva-mantras
• śiva-mantra-rūpakān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (śivasya mantraḥ; mantrasya rūpakaḥ)

• śiva-rūpakān: having the form of Śiva
• śiva-rūpakān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (śivasya rūpam)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that true Śaiva worship includes Śiva united with Śakti, and that reverence to Śiva’s devotees is direct reverence to Śiva—because devotion and mantra transform the devotee into a living vessel of Śiva’s presence.

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

In Linga/Saguṇa worship, Śiva is approached through sacred form and mantra; this verse extends that principle by stating that devotees who live by Śiva-mantra are also to be honored as Śiva’s manifestation, reinforcing devotional service (sevā) as part of ritual worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Śiva–Śakti pūjā with steady mūla-bhāvanā (root contemplation of their divine unity), and practice bhakta-pūjā—serving Śiva’s devotees—along with regular japa of Śiva-mantra (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).