Shloka 12

Devanagari script

वामस्थिताच्युतन्दक्षभागस्थितविभुम्प्रभुम् । पृष्ठस्थितहरिं पृष्ठपार्श्वस्थितसुरादिकम्

Transliteration

vāmasthitācyutandakṣabhāgasthitavibhumprabhum | pṛṣṭhasthitahariṃ pṛṣṭhapārśvasthitasurādikam

Translation

He beheld the Lord arranged in sacred order: the Imperishable Acyuta (Viṣṇu) standing on the left, the mighty sovereign on the right, Hari stationed behind, and the hosts of gods and other celestial beings arrayed along the rear sides—an ordered vision of the divine assembly around Śiva’s supreme presence.

Word by Word

• वाम: left
• वाम: सम्बन्ध (in compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: दिशा/स्थानवाचक विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक (left)

• स्थित: situated
• स्थित: सम्बन्ध (in compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त) ‘standing/placed’

• अच्युतम्: Acyuta (Viṣṇu)
• अच्युतम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः = वाम-स्थित-अच्युत (Acyuta situated on the left)

• दक्ष: right
• दक्ष: सम्बन्ध (in compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: दिशा/स्थानवाचक विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक (right)

• भाग: side
• भाग: सम्बन्ध (in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रातिपदिक-आधार (side/part)

• स्थित: situated
• स्थित: सम्बन्ध (in compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त)

• विभुम्: the all-pervading Lord
• विभुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः = दक्ष-भाग-स्थित-विभु (the Lord situated on the right side)

• प्रभुम्: the Lord
• प्रभुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); मुख्य-वर्ण्य-वस्तु (main described object)

• पृष्ठ: back
• पृष्ठ: सम्बन्ध (in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रातिपदिक-आधार (back)

• स्थित: situated
• स्थित: सम्बन्ध (in compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त)

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः = पृष्ठ-स्थित-हरि (Hari situated at the back)

• पृष्ठ: back
• पृष्ठ: सम्बन्ध (in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रातिपदिक-आधार

• पार्श्व: side
• पार्श्व: सम्बन्ध (in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रातिपदिक-आधार (side/flank)

• स्थित: situated
• स्थित: सम्बन्ध (in compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त)

• सुर: gods
• सुर: सम्बन्ध (in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रातिपदिक-आधार (god)

• आदिकम्: and others (beginning with the gods)
• आदिकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + क (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः/समाहारार्थः = सुर-आदिक (gods and others)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Hari
• Devas

FAQs

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

It portrays cosmic hierarchy and harmony: even exalted deities and celestial hosts are shown in ordered attendance, pointing to Śiva’s sovereign status (Pati) as the central refuge for liberation in Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

The verse supports Saguna upāsanā by presenting a concrete, devotional vision of the Lord surrounded by divine attendants—an aid to dhyāna that naturally culminates in Linga-worship as the stable symbol of Śiva’s supreme presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dhyāna on Śiva as the sovereign center with the devas in reverent order, while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); this can be paired with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa as external supports to inner remembrance.