Shloka 12

Śiva-jñāna and the Non-dual Vision of a Śiva-maya Universe (शिवज्ञानम्—सर्वं शिवमयम्)

Devanagari script

उपायं यः करोत्यस्य दर्शनार्थं विचक्षणः । वेदान्तमार्गमाश्रित्य तद्दर्शनफलं लभेत्

Transliteration

upāyaṃ yaḥ karotyasya darśanārthaṃ vicakṣaṇaḥ | vedāntamārgamāśritya taddarśanaphalaṃ labhet

Translation

The discerning seeker who undertakes the proper means to behold Him—taking refuge in the path of Vedānta—attains the true fruit that arises from that divine vision.

Word by Word

• upāyam: means, method
• upāyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• karoti: does, performs
• karoti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• asya: of him/this (of Śiva)
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• darśana-artham: for the sake of seeing (him)
• darśana-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśana (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (purpose)

• vicakṣaṇaḥ: discerning, wise
• vicakṣaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying yaḥ)

• vedānta-mārgam: the path of Vedānta
• vedānta-mārgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vedānta (प्रातिपदिक) + mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• āśritya: having resorted to
• āśritya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √śri (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), क्त्वा; क्रियाविशेषण

• tat-darśana-phalam: the fruit of seeing Him
• tat-darśana-phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'तस्य दर्शनस्य फलम्'

• labhet: would obtain
• labhet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

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 teaches that true “darśana” of Shiva is not merely external sight but a realized vision gained through the right spiritual means—inner discernment and contemplation aligned with Vedāntic understanding—yielding the highest fruit of grace and liberation.

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

Jyotirlinga or Linga-darśana is honored as a powerful outer support (saguṇa upāsanā), while the verse emphasizes that the fullest fruit arises when that worship is joined to inner inquiry and steady contemplation that leads the mind to Shiva’s supreme reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies combining pilgrimage and darśana with a Vedāntic contemplative practice—quiet meditation on Shiva as the indwelling Lord (Pati), supported by mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined inner reflection to receive the complete fruit of darśana.