Shloka 17

Devanagari script

सत्यं न भाषसे त्वं च किमतः सिद्धिमिच्छसि । प्रयोजनं चेद्बाणेन स्वामी च याच्यतां मम

Transliteration

satyaṃ na bhāṣase tvaṃ ca kimataḥ siddhimicchasi | prayojanaṃ cedbāṇena svāmī ca yācyatāṃ mama

Translation

You do not speak the truth—so how can you seek siddhi from this? If you have some purpose involving Bāṇa, then ask my lord, Śiva, for it.

Word by Word

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular; object)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• भाषसे: you speak
• भाषसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम/मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular: you)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction: and)

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (interrogative: what)

• अतः: therefore/from this
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/तस्मात् (ablatival adverb: from this/therefore)

• सिद्धिम्: success/accomplishment
• सिद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• इच्छसि: you desire
• इच्छसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रयोजनम्: purpose/need
• प्रयोजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (here: object ‘purpose/need’)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्त (conditional particle: if)

• बाणेन: with an arrow
• बाणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• स्वामी: the master/lord
• स्वामी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• याच्यताम्: let (him) be requested
• याच्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √याच् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): ‘let (him) be requested’

• मम: my/of me
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive singular: of me/my)

Speaker

An attendant/devotee aligned with Lord Shiva (speaking to a petitioner in the Bāṇa narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bana

FAQs

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

The verse links siddhi to satya (truthfulness): spiritual success is not merely a result of desire, but of inner integrity. In a Shaiva Siddhanta tone, purity of intention and truthful speech are essential for receiving Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

It directs the seeker toward the personal Lord (Saguna Shiva) as the rightful giver of boons—implying that requests should be made directly to Shiva with sincerity, as one would approach the Linga with honest devotion rather than manipulation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is satya-vrata (a vow of truth) alongside simple Shiva-upasana—such as japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—before seeking any worldly or spiritual boon.