Shloka 20

तपः–मन्त्रजप–ध्यानविधिः

Protocol of Tapas, Mantra-Japa, and Śiva-Dhyāna

Devanagari script

उज्ज्वलं सरसञ्चैव वक्रमारक्त कन्तथा । नेत्रं चतुर्विधं प्रोक्तं तस्य भावं पृथग्बुधाः

Transliteration

ujjvalaṃ sarasañcaiva vakramārakta kantathā | netraṃ caturvidhaṃ proktaṃ tasya bhāvaṃ pṛthagbudhāḥ

Translation

The eyes are declared to be of four kinds—bright, moist and gentle-clear, curved, and reddish-lovely. The wise discern the distinct inner import (bhāva) of each.

Word by Word

• उज्ज्वलम्: bright
• उज्ज्वलम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); ‘नेत्रम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सरसम्: clear/pleasant (lit. juicy)
• सरसम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सरस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); ‘नेत्रम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-बोधक (Conjunction)

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: निपात (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (Emphatic particle)

• वक्रम्: crooked; oblique
• वक्रम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); ‘नेत्रम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• आरक्तम्: reddish
• आरक्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आरक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); ‘नेत्रम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कान्तथा: and (also) lovely/beautiful (reading uncertain)
• कान्तथा: विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण (Qualifier/Adverbial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कान्त + तथा (प्रातिपदिक + अव्यय)
• Form: पाठभेद/सन्दिग्धपाठः; सम्भाव्यः—‘कान्तम् तथा’ (कान्त (Neuter Nom./Acc. Sg.) + तथा (Avyaya)) इति; ‘नेत्रम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• नेत्रम्: the eye
• नेत्रम्: कर्म/विषय (Karman/Subject in passive ‘proktam’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• चतुर्विधम्: fourfold
• चतुर्विधम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—चतुर्-विध (determinative: ‘of four kinds’)

• प्रोक्तम्: is said/declared
• प्रोक्तम्: क्रिया (Predicate in passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √वच् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृत् क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः—‘(इदं) प्रोक्तम्’

• तस्य: of it/of that
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (Pronoun)

• भावम्: the meaning/state/nature
• भावम्: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)

• बुधाः: the wise (people)
• बुधाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches saguna-upāsanā: by contemplating specific auspicious features of Shiva—here, the fourfold character of the eyes—the devotee steadies devotion and gains insight into Shiva’s compassionate, protective, and liberating presence.

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

While the Liṅga points to Shiva’s nirguṇa depth, the Purana also authorizes saguna meditation. This verse supports form-based contemplation (dhyāna) of Shiva’s marks so the mind becomes one-pointed and fit to realize the Liṅga’s transcendent meaning.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use dhyāna: visualize Shiva’s eyes with these auspicious qualities while repeating the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), letting each feature evoke reverence, calmness, and surrender.