Shloka 32

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

Interpretive Discipline

Devanagari script

इतीशश्रुतिवाक्याभ्यामुपदिष्टार्थमादरात् । साक्षाच्छिवैक्यदं पुंसां शिशोगुरुरुपादिशेत्

Transliteration

itīśaśrutivākyābhyāmupadiṣṭārthamādarāt | sākṣācchivaikyadaṃ puṃsāṃ śiśogururupādiśet

Translation

So soll der Lehrer in ehrfürchtiger Hingabe das Kind in der Bedeutung unterweisen, die durch die Worte des Herrn und der Śruti gelehrt ist—eine Lehre, die den Menschen unmittelbar die Einheit mit Śiva verleiht.

Word by Word

• इति: thus; ‘iti’
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative particle)

• ईश-श्रुति-वाक्याभ्याम्: by the statements of the Lord’s śruti
• ईश-श्रुति-वाक्याभ्याम्: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), द्विवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ईशस्य श्रुतेः वाक्ये)

• उपदिष्ट-अर्थम्: the instructed meaning
• उपदिष्ट-अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपदिश् (धातु) → उपदिष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (उपदिष्टः अर्थः)

• आदरात्: out of reverence
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ (cause: ‘out of reverence’)

• साक्षात्: directly; manifestly
• साक्षात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• शिव-ऐक्य-दम्: that which gives unity with Śiva
• शिव-ऐक्य-दम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + ऐक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘giver’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य ऐक्यं ददाति इति)

• पुंसाम्: of men; of people
• पुंसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंस्/पुम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), बहुवचन

• शिशोः: of a child
• शिशोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन

• गुरुः: the teacher
• गुरुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन

• उपादिशेत्: should instruct; should teach
• उपादिशेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-दिश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasa Samhita teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares that scripture-aligned guru-upadeśa, given with reverence, is not merely moral instruction but a direct means to Śiva-aikya—liberating recognition of the soul’s true dependence on and fulfillment in Lord Shiva.

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

In Shaiva practice, the guru teaches the scriptural meaning behind Saguna worship—such as Linga-pūjā and mantra—so that external devotion matures into inner realization, culminating in closeness and unity with Shiva rather than mere ritualism.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies guru-given mantra-upadeśa grounded in śruti—classically the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya")—to be practiced with devotion and right understanding, supported by Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where appropriate.