Shloka 33

पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा

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

Devanagari script

अप्सरोगणसंविष्टैर्विमानैःपरिमातृभिः । वक्तव्यं च सदा सत्यं न सत्याद्विद्यते परम्

Transliteration

apsarogaṇasaṃviṣṭairvimānaiḥparimātṛbhiḥ | vaktavyaṃ ca sadā satyaṃ na satyādvidyate param

Translation

Surrounded by aerial chariots filled with hosts of apsarās and attended by revered motherly divinities, one should always speak the truth; for beyond truth there is no higher principle.

Word by Word

• अप्सरो-गण-संविष्टैः: occupied by groups of apsarases
• अप्सरो-गण-संविष्टैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्सरस् + गण + संविष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifies विमानैः); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘apsarogaṇena saṃviṣṭa’

• विमानैः: by aerial chariots
• विमानैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; करण (instrumental)

• परिमातृभिः: with attendants/retinue (parimātṛs)
• परिमातृभिः: Sahakari/Karana (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिमातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; करण/सह (instrumental of accompaniment)

• वक्तव्यम्: should be spoken
• वक्तव्यम्: Vidhi (विधि/obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—तव्यत् (gerundive/obligatory); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

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

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

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

• सत्यात्: than/from truth
• सत्यात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative)

• विद्यते: exists/is found
• विद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; भावे ‘exists/is found’

• परम्: higher/superior
• परम्: Pratishedhya (प्रतिषेध्य/negated predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse uses celestial imagery (vimānas, apsarās, mātṛs) as a didactic frame for satya-mahātmyam rather than a specific jyotirliṅga-sthala narrative.

Significance: Reinforces satya as unsurpassed principle; encourages pilgrims/householders to treat truthfulness as a living tīrtha (inner pilgrimage).

Characters & Entities

• Apsaras
• Vimanas
• Matrikas (Divine Mothers)

FAQs

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

It elevates satya (truthfulness) as a supreme dharmic discipline: by adhering to truth, the pashu (individual soul) loosens pasha (bondage) and becomes fit for Shiva’s grace, which is the doorway to liberation.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not only ritual but also inner purity; truthfulness is presented as an essential ethical foundation that makes external worship fruitful and aligns the devotee with Saguna Shiva’s dharmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to adopt a satya-vrata (vow of truth), especially during Shiva observances (e.g., Mahashivratri), supporting japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with truthful speech and conduct.