Shloka 24

पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा

Praise of Water-Gift and the Construction of Wells and Tanks

Devanagari script

सत्यं सुप्तेषु जागर्ति सत्यं च परमं पदम् । सत्येनैव धृता पृथ्वी सत्ये सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्

Transliteration

satyaṃ supteṣu jāgarti satyaṃ ca paramaṃ padam | satyenaiva dhṛtā pṛthvī satye sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam

Translation

Truth remains awake even when beings are asleep; Truth itself is the supreme state. By Truth alone the earth is sustained, and in Truth everything stands firmly established.

Word by Word

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; abstract noun used as subject/object

• सुप्तेषु: among the sleeping (persons)
• सुप्तेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुप्त (कृदन्त; √स्वप् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; past participle used substantively: 'in those who are asleep'

• जागर्ति: is awake / keeps awake
• जागर्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जागृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; repeated for emphasis

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

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of 'पदम्'

• पदम्: state/abode/position
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सत्येन: by/through truth
• सत्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; instrumental

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• धृता: is upheld/sustained
• धृता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृत (कृदन्त; √धृ धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with 'पृथ्वी'

• पृथ्वी: the earth
• पृथ्वी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथ्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• सत्ये: in truth
• सत्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'everything'

• प्रतिष्ठितम्: is established/founded
• प्रतिष्ठितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रतिष्ठित (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु with प्रति-उपसर्ग)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate with 'सर्वम्'

Speaker

Lord Shiva (in Umāsaṃhitā’s philosophical instruction to Umā/Devī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Tryambakeśvara

Sthala Purana: At Tryambaka, the source-region of Godāvarī symbolizes sustaining order; this verse’s ‘earth is sustained by Truth’ mirrors the tīrtha’s role as life-supporting source.

Significance: Encourages pilgrims to treat tīrtha and temple vows as grounded in satya; truthfulness becomes the sustaining ‘support’ (dhāraṇa) of all vrata and worship.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: satyaṃ supteṣu jāgarti satyaṃ ca paramaṃ padam | satyenaiva dhṛtā pṛthvī satye sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents satya (truth) as an unfailing, ever-wakeful principle—an expression of the stable ground of reality upheld by Pati (Shiva). In Shaiva Siddhanta, truthfulness purifies the pashu (bound soul) and loosens pasha (bondage), making the mind fit for Shiva-knowledge and liberation.

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

Linga worship trains the devotee to see the one steady reality behind changing names and forms. This verse supports that vision: all things are ‘established in truth,’ so approaching the Linga with truthful intention, speech, and conduct becomes a direct offering to Saguna Shiva and a doorway toward realizing Shiva’s higher, unwavering principle.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt satya-vrata (a vow of truthfulness) alongside daily Shiva worship: apply tripuṇḍra with a truthful sankalpa, chant the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while observing inner honesty, and let speech be measured and non-deceptive as a practical austerity (tapas) offered to Shiva.