Shloka 25

Svagati-varṇana

Description of the Supreme State / One’s True Attainment

Devanagari script

सूर्य्य हस्तमनिर्द्देश्यं पाशहस्तमिवांतकम् । परशुं तीक्ष्णधारं च सर्पाद्यैश्च विभूषितम्

Transliteration

sūryya hastamanirddeśyaṃ pāśahastamivāṃtakam | paraśuṃ tīkṣṇadhāraṃ ca sarpādyaiśca vibhūṣitam

Translation

His splendour was beyond description, as though the sun itself rested in His hand; and like Death holding the noose (pāśa) in his grasp. He also bore a sharp‑edged axe, and was adorned with sacred ornaments such as serpents and the like.

Word by Word

• सूर्य: of the sun
• सूर्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — genitive singular (used as first member in compound)

• हस्तम्: hand
• हस्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — accusative singular

• अनिर्देश्यम्: indescribable
• अनिर्देश्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिर्देश्य (प्रातिपदिक; निः+दिश् धातु से निष्पन्न विशेषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular; विशेषण (qualifying हस्तम्)

• पाश: of a noose
• पाश: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन — genitive singular (used as first member in compound)

• हस्तम्: hand
• हस्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular (in compound sense)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• अन्तकम्: Yama, the ender (death)
• अन्तकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular

• परशुम्: axe
• परशुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular

• तीक्ष्ण: sharp
• तीक्ष्ण: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular; विशेषण (qualifying धारम्/परशुम् via compound)

• धारम्: edge/blade
• धारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular; (समासाङ्ग: तीक्ष्णधारम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सर्प: snakes
• सर्प: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन — instrumental plural (as first member in compound sarpādyaiḥ)

• आद्यैः: and others (etc.)
• आद्यैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन — instrumental plural; ‘आदि’ = etc., and others

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विभूषितम्: adorned
• विभूषितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+भूष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular; विशेषण (qualifying the described object)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; weapon-emblems (pāśa, paraśu) and serpent-ornaments mark a Bhairava/Rudra-like sovereign who binds and releases (pāśa as bondage-control).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Yama

FAQs

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

The verse portrays Saguna Shiva as the supreme Lord (Pati) whose splendour is beyond description, yet who compassionately becomes perceptible through divine emblems—radiance, noose, axe, and serpents—signifying His mastery over bondage, time, and ignorance, and His power to grant liberation.

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

While the Linga points to Shiva’s transcendent (Nirguna) reality, this verse supports Saguna upasana by giving contemplative markers—His radiant presence and attributes—so devotees can meditate with form, then rise toward the formless truth indicated by the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva’s radiant form while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), visualizing Him as the Lord who cuts the bonds (pāśa) with His power and removes inner impurity; this pairs naturally with traditional Shaiva aids like vibhuti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrāksha.