Shloka 14

Anasūyā–Atri Tapas-Varṇana

Description of Anasūyā and Atri’s Austerities

Devanagari script

ध्यायति स्म परं ज्योतिरात्मस्थमात्मना च सः । अत्रिर्मुनिवरो ज्ञानी शंकरं निर्विकारकम्

Transliteration

dhyāyati sma paraṃ jyotirātmasthamātmanā ca saḥ | atrirmunivaro jñānī śaṃkaraṃ nirvikārakam

Translation

The sage Atri—best among munis and established in knowledge—meditated with his own inner self upon the Supreme Light abiding within, upon Śaṅkara, the changeless Lord.

Word by Word

• ध्यायति: meditates
• ध्यायति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• स्म: indeed/then (narrative particle)
• स्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; भूतार्थ/अनुस्मरणार्थ-निपात (particle indicating past narration)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• ज्योतिः: light, radiance
• ज्योतिः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• आत्मस्थम्: abiding in the Self
• आत्मस्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: आत्मनि स्थितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• आत्मना: by (his) self
• आत्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• अत्रिः: Atri
• अत्रिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• मुनिवरः: best of sages
• मुनिवरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (श्रेष्ठः मुनिः); पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• ज्ञानी: knower, wise
• ज्ञानी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• निर्विकारकम्: unchanging, without modification
• निर्विकारकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + विकारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); उपसर्ग-पूर्वक (nir-)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Atri

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva is realized as the Supreme Light within the heart, and that steady dhyāna on the changeless Śaṅkara leads the knower toward liberation.

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

While Jyotirliṅga worship honors Śiva as the cosmic Light in a sacred form, this verse emphasizes the inner counterpart—meditating on that same Light as ātmastha (indwelling), moving from saguna support to nirvikāra realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practice of silent dhyāna: withdraw the mind inward, contemplate Śiva as the supreme inner Light, and (where tradition is followed) support the meditation with pañcākṣarī japa—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”