Shloka 5

दक्षस्य तपः तथा जगदम्बायाः प्रत्यक्षता — Dakṣa’s Austerities and the Direct Manifestation of Jagadambā

Devanagari script

क्षीरोदोत्तरतीरस्थां तां कृत्वा हृदयस्थिताम् । तपस्तप्तुं समारेभे द्रुष्टुं प्रत्यक्षतोम्बिकाम्

Transliteration

kṣīrodottaratīrasthāṃ tāṃ kṛtvā hṛdayasthitām | tapastaptuṃ samārebhe druṣṭuṃ pratyakṣatombikām

Translation

Placing within his own heart her who abides on the northern shore of the Kṣīroda, he began to undertake austerities, longing to behold Ambikā directly, face to face.

Word by Word

• क्षीर-उद-उत्तर-तीर-स्थाम्: situated on the northern shore of the Kṣīroda (Milk-ocean)
• क्षीर-उद-उत्तर-तीर-स्थाम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक) + उद (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्था (कृदन्त; स्था-धातु, क्त/क्तवत्? as -स्थ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘क्षीरोदस्य उत्तरतीरे स्थिता’ (situated on the northern bank of the Milk-ocean) — ‘ताम्’ इति विशेषण

• ताम्: her/that
• ताम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made/placed
• कृत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), पूर्वकाल; ‘कृत्वा’ = having made/placed

• हृदय-स्थिताम्: dwelling in (his) heart
• हृदय-स्थिताम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त; स्था-धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘हृदये स्थिता’ (placed in the heart/mind)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तप्तुम्: to perform (austerity)
• तप्तुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), प्रयोजन (to perform austerity)

• समारेभे: began/undertook
• समारेभे: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आ+रभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), प्रयोजन (purpose)

• प्रत्यक्षतः: directly
• प्रत्यक्षतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रत्यक्षतस् (अव्यय; तसिल्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb), प्रकार/रीति (directly, before the eyes)

• अम्बिकाम्: Ambikā (the Mother Goddess)
• अम्बिकाम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Kṣīroda (Ocean of Milk) is invoked as a divine locus; the verse uses cosmic geography rather than a terrestrial sthala tied to a Jyotirliṅga.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Mythic cosmic geography: reference to Kṣīroda-samudra as divine realm

Characters & Entities

• Ambika
• Shakti
• Kshiroda (Ocean of Milk)

FAQs

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

It teaches that divine vision (pratyakṣa-darśana) arises when the devotee internalizes the deity—establishing Ambikā in the heart—and purifies body and mind through tapas, aligning the individual soul toward grace and direct experience.

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

The verse reflects Saguna upāsanā: the deity is meditated upon with form and presence, first inwardly (in the heart) and then realized outwardly as direct perception. In Shaiva practice, this parallels Linga worship where external pūjā is supported by inner dhyāna.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Heart-centered dhyāna on Ambikā combined with tapas—practically expressed as daily japa (including Pañcākṣarī, "Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), disciplined vows/fasting, and focused meditation to seek direct inner and outer realization of the Divine.