Shloka 53

Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

तस्याः श्रुतेस्तु तात्पर्यं वक्ष्यामि श्रूयतामिदम् । तव स्नेहाद्वामदेव विवेकार्थविजृंभितम्

Transliteration

tasyāḥ śrutestu tātparyaṃ vakṣyāmi śrūyatāmidam | tava snehādvāmadeva vivekārthavijṛṃbhitam

Translation

Now I shall explain the true purport of that Śruti—listen to this. O Vāmadeva, out of affection for you, this teaching is unfolded so that discriminative insight (viveka) may awaken.

Word by Word

• तस्याः: of that (Śruti)
• तस्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन — Pronoun, Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• श्रुतेः: of the Śruti
• श्रुतेः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन — Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (contrastive particle)

• तात्पर्यम्: purport, intended meaning
• तात्पर्यम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात्पर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• वक्ष्यामि: क्रिया (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्/Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Simple future, 1st person singular

• श्रूयताम्: let (this) be heard
• श्रूयताम्: क्रिया (Injunctive predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Imperative passive/impersonal: “let it be heard”

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्म (Object of ‘hear’/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular

• तव: of you, your
• तव: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन — Pronoun, Genitive, Singular

• स्नेहात्: from affection; due to affection
• स्नेहात्: हेतु (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान/Ablative), एकवचन — Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• वामदेव: O Vāmadeva
• वामदेव: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन — Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• विवेक: discernment
• विवेक: समासाङ्ग (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-आधार (used in compound)

• अर्थ: purpose/meaning
• अर्थ: समासाङ्ग (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-आधार (used in compound)

• विजृंभितम्: expanded, unfolded
• विजृंभितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√जृम्भ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Past passive participle, Neuter Nom/Acc Singular; (as adjective to ‘idam’ understood)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing Vāmadeva in Kailāsa discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vāmadeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vamadeva
• Shruti

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes śravaṇa (reverent listening) to revealed wisdom and states that Shiva unfolds the Śruti’s inner intent to awaken viveka—discernment that leads the soul (paśu) toward liberation under the Lord (Pati) by loosening bondage (pāśa).

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

By pointing to the Śruti’s tātparya, the verse supports Saguna Shiva worship as a compassionate, accessible means: listening to Shiva’s instruction and contemplating it matures devotion into discernment, which culminates in realization of Shiva’s supreme nature beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The direct practice is śravaṇa and manana: listen to Shiva-centered scripture and reflect to awaken viveka. As a Shaiva takeaway, pair this with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to stabilize the discernment being “unfolded” by the teaching.