Shloka 16

Devanagari script

दक्षिणायनरूपेति विश्रुताः पञ्च देवताः । तासां वृत्तिं शृणुष्वाद्य वामदेव महामुने

Transliteration

dakṣiṇāyanarūpeti viśrutāḥ pañca devatāḥ | tāsāṃ vṛttiṃ śṛṇuṣvādya vāmadeva mahāmune

Translation

O great sage Vāmadeva, five deities are renowned as the forms presiding over Dakṣiṇāyana (the sun’s southern course). Now listen as I describe their functions and spheres of activity.

Word by Word

• दक्षिणायन-रूपा: having the form of the दक्षिणायन (southward course)
• दक्षिणायन-रूपा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिणायन (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (देवताः इति विशेष्यापेक्षया); तत्पुरुष-समास (दक्षिणायनस्य रूपाः)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक (quotative particle: thus)

• विश्रुताः: well-known
• विश्रुताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्रुत (√श्रु धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (well-known)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचनार्थे (agreeing with देवताः)

• देवताः: deities
• देवताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तासाम्: of them
• तासाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• वृत्तिम्: function/role/behavior
• वृत्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शृणुष्व: hear/listen
• शृणुष्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अद्य: now/today
• अद्य: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb: today/now)

• वामदेव: O Vāmadeva
• वामदेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महान् मुनिः)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing sage Vāmadeva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Vāmadeva

FAQs

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

It frames the deities as functional powers within cosmic order, inviting the seeker to understand their roles while recognizing Shiva as the supreme Pati who governs all functions and grants liberation.

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

By introducing the deities’ functions, the text subtly directs devotion toward Saguna Shiva as the source and regulator of all divine offices; Linga-worship centers the mind on that one supreme reality beyond subsidiary powers.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śravaṇa (reverent listening) and contemplation of Shiva’s lordship over all devatās, supported by japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with calm, attentive awareness.