Shloka 26

Devanagari script

सत्यं यज्ञस्तपो दानं मंत्रा देवी सरस्वती । ब्रह्मचर्य्यं तथा सत्यमोंकारस्सत्यमेव च

Transliteration

satyaṃ yajñastapo dānaṃ maṃtrā devī sarasvatī | brahmacaryyaṃ tathā satyamoṃkārassatyameva ca

Translation

Truth is yajña (sacrifice); truth is tapas (austerity); truth is dāna (charitable giving). Truth is the mantra, and Truth is Goddess Sarasvatī. Truth is also brahmacarya (chaste discipline); and the sacred Oṃkāra too is verily Truth alone.

Word by Word

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• यज्ञः: sacrifice
• यज्ञः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• दानम्: charity
• दानम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• मन्त्राः: mantras
• मन्त्राः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• सरस्वती: Sarasvatī
• सरस्वती: सम्बन्ध (Apposition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; देवी-विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन्

• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: celibacy/holy conduct
• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• तथा: also
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकार-अव्ययम् (indeclinable: ‘also/likewise’)

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• ओंकारः: Oṃkāra (the syllable Oṃ)
• ओंकारः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओंकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्ययम् (emphatic particle)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s doctrine to the sages at Naimisharanya within the Uma Samhita’s philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames satya (truth) as the inner tīrtha and the highest dharma; supports the Śaiva Siddhānta emphasis that purity of conduct is prerequisite for Śiva-anugraha (grace) and for fruitful mantra/pujā.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃkāraḥ satyam eva ca

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Sarasvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvati
• Om (Omkara)

FAQs

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

It declares satya (truth) as the inner essence of all sacred acts—yajña, tapas, dāna, mantra, and brahmacarya—indicating that spiritual merit and liberation-oriented purity arise primarily from alignment with truth.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not merely external ritual; it must be supported by satya. Truth becomes the living offering—making pūjā effective—so Saguna worship matures into inner purity and right knowledge leading toward Shiva-realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice truthful living with disciplined brahmacarya and japa of Oṃ (and Shaiva mantras) as an inner vow; combine it with dāna and tapas so the mantra becomes grounded in ethical and yogic purity.