Shloka 14

मुक्तयतिदेहसंस्काररहस्यं — The Esoteric Rites for the Bodies of Liberated Ascetics

Devanagari script

आत्महन्ताकृतिः काचिज्ज्योत्तिःपुंजवपुष्मती । अह्नोऽभिमानिनी काचिच्छुक्लपक्षाभिमानिनी

Transliteration

ātmahantākṛtiḥ kācijjyottiḥpuṃjavapuṣmatī | ahno'bhimāninī kācicchuklapakṣābhimāninī

Translation

One divine Power appeared in a form that destroys ego-self, radiant as a mass of light. Another manifested as the presiding intelligence of the day, and yet another as the presiding intelligence of the bright fortnight (śukla-pakṣa).

Word by Word

• आत्म-हन्ता-कृतिः: a form like a self-slayer (self-destructive form)
• आत्म-हन्ता-कृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + हन्तृ (√हन् धातु) + कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (आत्महन्तुः कृतिः/आत्महन्ता-रूपा कृतिः)

• काचित्: a certain (female entity)
• काचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun: a certain)

• ज्योतिः-पुञ्ज-वपुष्मती: having a body that is a mass of light
• ज्योतिः-पुञ्ज-वपुष्मती: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक) + पुञ्ज (प्रातिपदिक) + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + मतुप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive) विशेषण; तत्पुरुष-समास (ज्योतिषां पुञ्जः = ज्योतिःपुञ्जः; ज्योतिःपुञ्जं वपुः यस्याः)

• अह्नः-अभिमानिनी: the presiding deity of the day
• अह्नः-अभिमानिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन्/अह्न (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिमानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (अह्नः अभिमानिनी = presiding over the day)

• काचित्: a certain (one)
• काचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम

• शुक्ल-पक्ष-अभिमानिनी: the presiding deity of the bright fortnight
• शुक्ल-पक्ष-अभिमानिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिमानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शुक्लपक्षस्य अभिमानिनी = presiding over the bright fortnight)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It points to Shiva’s governance of time and consciousness through presiding powers, and highlights the key Shaiva ideal: the destruction of ego (ahaṃkāra) so the inner light of awareness can shine unobstructed, leading the soul (paśu) toward liberation under Pati (Shiva).

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

The ‘mass of light’ aligns with Shiva’s luminous, auspicious presence worshipped in Saguna form (including Linga worship). Devotion fixes the mind on Shiva as the Lord of time and light, and that focus becomes a means for dissolving ego-identification.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as jyoti (inner light) while reciting the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), especially during the śukla-pakṣa; let the practice be aimed at reducing ego and cultivating steady, luminous awareness.