Shloka 32

Devanagari script

रक्तं कृष्णं च रक्तं च षट्कमेव प्रकीर्तितम् । दक्षिणाद्यं महेशानि पूर्वावधि समीरितम्

Transliteration

raktaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ ca raktaṃ ca ṣaṭkameva prakīrtitam | dakṣiṇādyaṃ maheśāni pūrvāvadhi samīritam

Translation

“Red, black, and again red—thus the sixfold order has been declared. O Maheśānī, it is described as beginning from the southern direction and extending up to the eastern limit.”

Word by Word

• रक्तम्: red
• रक्तम्: Karma (कर्म; listed item)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वर्णवाचक-विशेषणम्

• कृष्णम्: black
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म; listed item)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक-अव्यय

• रक्तम्: red
• रक्तम्: Karma (कर्म; listed item)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक-अव्यय

• षट्कम्: the set of six
• षट्कम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट्क (प्रातिपदिक; षट् + क)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (षट् संख्या-पूर्वकः समूहः)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle: 'indeed/just')

• प्रकीर्तितम्: has been proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate: 'has been declared')

• दक्षिण-आद्यम्: beginning with the south
• दक्षिण-आद्यम्: Karma (कर्म; described item)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दक्षिणं आदिः यस्य)

• महेशानि: O Maheśānī
• महेशानि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• पूर्व-अवधि: up to the east (as limit)
• पूर्व-अवधि: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व + अवधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial: 'up to the east/as the limit being east')

• समीरितम्: has been stated
• समीरितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-ईर् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate: 'has been stated')

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Sixfold (ṣaṭka) ordering is declared with directional span south-to-east; it functions as ritual taxonomy rather than a site-legend.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse points to an ordered, sixfold scheme (ṣaṭka) expressed through color and direction, suggesting that Shaiva practice is not random but aligned to a cosmic pattern—an outer ritual order that mirrors inner yogic alignment under Pati (Śiva).

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

By specifying a structured sequence and directional extent, the verse supports Saguna worship where the Liṅga is approached through prescribed arrangements (mandala/dik-krama). Such order trains the devotee’s attention, making the mind steady for Śiva-dhyāna and Liṅga-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests following a directional sequence (starting from the south toward the east) in arranging or contemplating a sixfold set—useful in pūjā layout, nyāsa, or mandala-based meditation, performed with steadiness and Śiva-bhakti.