Shloka 36

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

Interpretive Discipline

Devanagari script

इत्याह श्रुतिसत्तत्त्वं दृढात्मा गतभीर्भव । इत्याभाष्य स्वयं शिष्यं देवं ध्यायन्समर्चयेत्

Transliteration

ityāha śrutisattattvaṃ dṛḍhātmā gatabhīrbhava | ityābhāṣya svayaṃ śiṣyaṃ devaṃ dhyāyansamarcayet

Translation

Having thus taught the true essence established by the Vedas, the steadfast one said, “Be firm in spirit and free from fear.” Having spoken so, he should personally guide the disciple, meditate upon the Lord (Śiva), and worship Him with reverent offerings.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/वाक्य-चिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-समाप्ति-सूचक अव्यय

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/आह् (धातु: ब्रू/अह् ‘to say’)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी; ‘said’

• श्रुति-सत्-तत्त्वम्: the true essence of the śruti
• श्रुति-सत्-तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक) + सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (बहुपद-तत्पुरुष): श्रुति-सत्-तत्त्वम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; आह इति क्रियायाः कर्म

• दृढात्मा: O firm-minded one
• दृढात्मा: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे/विशेषणरूपेण (addressing)

• गत-भीः: (you) whose fear has gone
• गत-भीः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (कृदन्त) + भी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समासः ‘यस्य भीः गता’; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; (दृढात्मा इत्यस्य सहविशेषणम्/सम्बोधन)

• भव: become / be
• भव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative); मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-समाप्ति-सूचक अव्यय

• आभाष्य: having spoken
• आभाष्य: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+भाष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having spoken/addressed’

• स्वयम्: oneself
• स्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता/कर्तृ-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कर्तृवाचक (oneself)

• शिष्यम्: the disciple
• शिष्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• देवम्: the deity
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ध्यायन्: meditating
• ध्यायन्: Karta (कर्ता/कर्तृ-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषणम्

• समर्चयेत्: should worship duly
• समर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

Speaker

Lord Shiva (as the preceptor teaching the disciple in Kailasa-context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents the Shaiva path as Guru-guided: after receiving Vedic truth, the seeker becomes fearless and steady, then completes the teaching through meditation and direct worship of Śiva, the Pati who grants liberation.

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

Though the verse says “Deva,” the instruction is practical and devotional: the disciple is led to meditate and perform formal worship—typically through Saguna upāsanā such as Liṅga-pūjā—so inner contemplation (dhyāna) is united with outer ritual (arcana).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A combined practice: dhyāna (steady meditation on Śiva) followed by samarcana (proper pūjā). The takeaway is to worship after instruction—ideally with mantra-japa (e.g., pañcākṣarī), and traditional Śaiva observances like bhasma and rudrākṣa where applicable.