Shloka 5

Devanagari script

दक्षिणम्बाहुमुद्धृत्य शपथम्प्रब्रवीमि ते । सत्यं सत्यं पुनस्सत्यं सत्यं सत्यं पुनः पुनः

Transliteration

dakṣiṇambāhumuddhṛtya śapathamprabravīmi te | satyaṃ satyaṃ punassatyaṃ satyaṃ satyaṃ punaḥ punaḥ

Translation

Raising my right arm, I declare an oath to you: it is true—true indeed—true again; true, true, again and again.

Word by Word

• दक्षिणम्: right
• दक्षिणम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.)/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut.) रूपसम्भव; अत्र ‘बाहुम्’ विशेषणत्वेन पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन

• बाहुम्: arm
• बाहुम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• उद्धृत्य: having raised
• उद्धृत्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having lifted/raised’

• शपथम्: an oath
• शपथम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शपथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• प्रब्रवीमि: I declare / I utter
• प्रब्रवीमि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; अत्र शपथवाक्ये ‘truth’ इति भावार्थे

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (repetition for emphasis)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरुक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: again)

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: again)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: again; repetition)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: satyaṃ satyaṃ punas satyaṃ | satyaṃ satyaṃ punaḥ punaḥ

FAQs

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

The verse underscores satya (truth) as a sacred spiritual power: a vow spoken in truth becomes dharmic force, aligning the devotee’s speech and intention with Shiva as Pati (the supreme Lord) who is the ground of reality.

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

In Shaiva practice, worship of the Linga is sustained by purity of conduct—especially truthful speech. This oath-like affirmation reflects the inner discipline (niyama) that supports external worship, making devotion to Saguna Shiva sincere and effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt satya-vrata (a vow of truthfulness) before puja or japa—especially while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—so that mantra and intention remain steady, free from deception and agitation.