Shloka 30

शिवध्यानपूजनवर्णनम्

Description of Śiva Meditation and Worship

Devanagari script

धर्मो ज्ञानं च वैराग्यमैश्वर्यं च पदानि वै । आग्नेयादिश्वेतपीतरक्तश्यामानि वर्णतः

Transliteration

dharmo jñānaṃ ca vairāgyamaiśvaryaṃ ca padāni vai | āgneyādiśvetapītaraktaśyāmāni varṇataḥ

Translation

Dharma, spiritual knowledge, dispassion (vairāgya), and divine lordship (aiśvarya)—these indeed are the four states. In appearance they are colored, in order from the fire-quarter onward: white, yellow, red, and dark (black).

Word by Word

• धर्मः: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: समुच्चित-पदार्थ (Co-listed item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वैराग्यम्: dispassion, detachment
• वैराग्यम्: समुच्चित-पदार्थ (Co-listed item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• ऐश्वर्यम्: lordship, sovereignty
• ऐश्वर्यम्: समुच्चित-पदार्थ (Co-listed item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पदानि: words/terms
• पदानि: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Plural)

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• आग्नेयादि-श्वेत-पीत-रक्त-श्यामानि: (colored as) agneya etc.: white, yellow, red, black
• आग्नेयादि-श्वेत-पीत-रक्त-श्यामानि: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आग्नेयादि + श्वेत + पीत + रक्त + श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Neuter Nom/Acc Plural); समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative): 'आग्नेयादयः ... वर्णाः'

• वर्णतः: by color; in terms of color
• वर्णतः: हेतु/सम्बन्ध (Adverbial specification)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वर्णतस् (अव्यय-तसिल्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): 'in respect of color'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It classifies four core spiritual attainments—dharma, jñāna, vairāgya, and aiśvarya—as distinct “states,” indicating an ordered inner maturation where ethics supports knowledge, knowledge ripens into detachment, and culminates in divine mastery aligned to Shiva (Pati).

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

In Shaiva practice, Linga-worship stabilizes dharma (right conduct) and deepens jñāna (right understanding); sustained devotion and contemplation foster vairāgya, and the resulting aiśvarya is not mere worldly power but Shiva-aligned spiritual sovereignty (grace-born steadiness and command over the senses).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use the verse as a contemplation during japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), reflecting on each state—dharma, jñāna, vairāgya, aiśvarya—while maintaining Shaiva discipline such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as supports for purity and focus.