Shloka 30

संन्यासाचारवर्णनम्

Description of the Conduct and Daily Discipline of Saṃnyāsa

Devanagari script

सौरमण्डलमध्यस्थं सर्वतेजोमयं परम् । अष्टबाहुं चतुर्वक्त्रमर्द्धनारीकमद्भुतम्

Transliteration

sauramaṇḍalamadhyasthaṃ sarvatejomayaṃ param | aṣṭabāhuṃ caturvaktramarddhanārīkamadbhutam

Translation

He is stationed in the midst of the solar orb—supreme, constituted of the radiance of all lights. Wondrous to behold, He appears with eight arms and four faces, in the marvelous form of Ardhanārīśvara, half male and half female.

Word by Word

• saura-maṇḍala-madhya-stham: situated in the middle of the solar orb
• saura-maṇḍala-madhya-stham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saura + maṇḍala + madhya + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (सौरमण्डलस्य मध्ये स्थितम्)

• sarva-tejo-mayam: consisting of all radiance
• sarva-tejo-mayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + tejas + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वं तेजः यस्मिन्/येन)

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• aṣṭa-bāhum: eight-armed
• aṣṭa-bāhum: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (aṣṭau bāhavaḥ yasya)

• catur-vaktram: four-faced
• catur-vaktram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (catvāri vaktrāṇi yasya)

• arddha-nārīkam: half-female (androgynous)
• arddha-nārīkam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arddha + nārīka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अर्धं नारीकं यस्य/यत्)

• adbhutam: wonderful
• adbhutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse presents a dhyāna-icon of Śiva as solar-centered, all-radiant Ardhanārīśvara, used as a contemplative support in ritual.

Significance: Darśana/meditation on the solar-tejas form is framed as purifying and grace-bestowing (anugraha), preparing the sādhaka for correct worship.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Solar-orb (sauramaṇḍala) localization of the deity; a cosmographic placement emphasizing tejas as divine epiphany.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse presents Shiva as both transcendent (param) and perceptible through divine radiance, revealing that the Supreme Pati can be contemplated as luminous consciousness while also manifesting as the unified Shiva–Shakti reality in Ardhanārīśvara.

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

By describing a definite form—eight arms, four faces, and Ardhanārīśvara—the verse supports saguna-upāsanā (personal worship). In Shaiva Siddhanta, such form-meditation purifies the soul (paśu) and loosens bonds (pāśa), preparing one for realization of Shiva beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Dhyāna (meditation) on the radiant Shiva within the solar orb, paired with japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” is the practical takeaway; devotees may also perform Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) application and offer heartfelt bhakti to the Ardhanārīśvara form.