Shloka 11

Śiva-nāma-smaraṇa and Śambhu’s Protective Manifestation

Dāruka Episode

Devanagari script

मध्यज्योतिस्स्वरूपं च शिवरूपं तदद्भुतम् । परिवारसमायुक्तं दृष्ट्वा चापूजयत्स वै

Transliteration

madhyajyotissvarūpaṃ ca śivarūpaṃ tadadbhutam | parivārasamāyuktaṃ dṛṣṭvā cāpūjayatsa vai

Translation

Beholding that wondrous form of Śiva—manifest as the radiant Light in the very center—and seeing Him attended by His divine retinue, he indeed offered worship.

Word by Word

• madhya-jyotiḥ-svarūpam: the form of the central light
• madhya-jyotiḥ-svarūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक) + jyotis (प्रातिपदिक) + svarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: मध्य-ज्योतिः (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः) + स्वरूप (तत्पुरुष) ‘form of the central light’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चयः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• śiva-rūpam: Śiva-form
• śiva-rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: शिव + रूप (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• tad: that
• tad: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; (adjectival ‘that’)

• adbhutam: wonderful
• adbhutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying rūpam)

• parivāra-samāyuktam: accompanied by retinue
• parivāra-samāyuktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parivāra (प्रातिपदिक) + sam-ā-yukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: परिवार + समायुक्त (तत्पुरुष) ; ‘endowed/associated with attendants’

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चयः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• apūjayat: worshipped
• apūjayat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; अ-आगम (augment)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• vai: indeed
• vai: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थ निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The description ‘madhya-jyotis-svarūpa’ resonates with Jyotirliṅga theology (Śiva as self-luminous pillar/light), though no specific named Jyotirliṅga is identified in this verse.

Significance: Darśana of Śiva as jyoti (light) is portrayed as transformative, prompting immediate pūjā and receptivity to grace.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as jyoti (conscious, self-revealing Light) while also affirming His gracious, worship-worthy saguna manifestation with attendants—showing that devotion and direct darśana lead the seeker toward liberation.

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

Kotirudrasaṃhitā emphasizes Jyotirliṅga glory; here Śiva is perceived as a central radiance (jyoti), a key Jyotirliṅga theme, yet encountered as a personal form with parivāra—supporting both liṅga-upāsanā and personal-form bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to seek darśana with reverence—offer pūjā to Śiva (especially the Jyotirliṅga) and meditate on the “madhya-jyoti,” the inner light in the heart/center, while maintaining devotional surrender.