Shloka 48

Vaiśyanātha-avatāra-kathā

The Account of Śiva’s Manifestation as Vaiśyanātha

Devanagari script

सत्याश्रयः परो धर्म सत्येन परमा गतिः । सत्येन स्वर्ग मोक्षौ च सत्ये सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्

Transliteration

satyāśrayaḥ paro dharma satyena paramā gatiḥ | satyena svarga mokṣau ca satye sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam

Translation

Der höchste Dharma ist der, der auf Wahrheit ruht. Durch Wahrheit erreicht man das höchste Ziel. Durch Wahrheit erlangt man sowohl Himmel als auch Befreiung (Moksha); in der Wahrheit ist wahrlich alles fest gegründet.

Word by Word

• सत्याश्रयः: having truth as support; truth-based
• सत्याश्रयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सत्यस्य आश्रयः) — Masculine, Nominative singular; genitive tatpurusha

• परः: supreme
• परः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative singular

• धर्मः: dharma; righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative singular

• सत्येन: by truth
• सत्येन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन — Neuter, Instrumental singular

• परमा: supreme
• परमा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative singular

• गतिः: goal; refuge; course
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative singular

• सत्येन: by truth
• सत्येन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन — Neuter, Instrumental singular

• स्वर्गः: heaven
• स्वर्गः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative singular

• मोक्षौ: liberation (and)
• मोक्षौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन — Masculine, Nominative dual (paired with स्वर्गः as द्वन्द्वार्थ-समुच्चय)

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

• सत्ये: in truth; upon truth
• सत्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-Base)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन — Neuter, Locative singular

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc. singular (context: subject)

• प्रतिष्ठितम्: is established; is founded
• प्रतिष्ठितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + स्था (धातु) → प्रतिष्ठित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Past passive participle, Neuter nominative singular; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः (predicative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A universal dharma-sūtra style proclamation: satya is the āśraya (support) of dharma and the means to svarga and mokṣa; not a site legend.

Significance: Recitation/remembering of satya-mahātmyam is framed as spiritually elevating; in Siddhānta, satya weakens āṇava/māyīya bonds and prepares for Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: सत्याश्रयः परो धर्म सत्येन परमा गतिः । सत्येन स्वर्ग मोक्षौ च सत्ये सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares Satya (truthfulness) as the foundation of the highest Dharma and the sure means to the supreme end—moksha—showing that spiritual life in Shaiva teaching must be grounded in inner and outer integrity.

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

Linga-worship is meant to purify the devotee’s conduct and consciousness; this verse highlights that offerings and devotion become truly effective when supported by Satya, aligning the worshipper with Shiva’s order (dharma) and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a satya-vrata (vow of truth) alongside daily Shiva worship—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple, sincere offerings—making truthfulness the core discipline that stabilizes sadhana.