Shloka 24

Vaiśyanātha-avatāra-kathā

The Account of Śiva’s Manifestation as Vaiśyanātha

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्व्यवहारे तु प्रमाणं शशिभास्करौ । त्रिवारं सत्यमित्युक्त्वा हृदयं मे स्पृश प्रिये

Transliteration

etasminvyavahāre tu pramāṇaṃ śaśibhāskarau | trivāraṃ satyamityuktvā hṛdayaṃ me spṛśa priye

Translation

In this matter, the Moon and the Sun are the proof and the witnesses. Having declared three times, “This is the truth,” touch my heart, O beloved.

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• व्यवहारे: transaction; matter; dispute
• व्यवहारे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधसूचक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• प्रमाणम्: proof; authority; witness
• प्रमाणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• शशिभास्करौ: the moon and the sun
• शशिभास्करौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशि + भास्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), द्विवचन (Dual); द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार/इतरेतर: moon and sun)

• त्रिवारम्: thrice
• त्रिवारम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि + वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘three times’

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; उक्तिविषय (object of saying)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उक्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• हृदयम्: heart
• हृदयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मे: my
• मे: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्पृश: touch
• स्पृश: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• प्रिये: O beloved
• प्रिये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; (प्रिय-शब्दः विशेषणरूपेण सम्बोधन)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Surya
• Chandra

FAQs

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

The verse elevates satya (truth) as a sacred vow: what is affirmed in speech must be sealed in the heart. In Shaiva Siddhanta, inner sincerity (antar-śuddhi) is essential for Shiva’s grace, so truth becomes both ethical discipline and spiritual alignment.

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

Linga worship emphasizes Shiva as the all-knowing witness (sākṣin). Invoking the Sun and Moon as cosmic witnesses mirrors the Linga’s role as the visible sign of the invisible Lord, encouraging devotees to approach Saguna Shiva with truthful intention and a steady heart.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to take a satya-vrata (truth vow) before Shiva worship—especially during Mahashivratri—repeating a truthful resolve three times, then meditating on the heart (hṛdaya) while chanting “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with sincerity.