Shloka 20

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

अवाप्य मानुष्यमयं कदाचिद्विहृत्य शंभोः परमात्मरूपे । फलानि सर्वाणि तु कर्मजानि यास्याम्यहं तत्तनुतां हि तस्य

Transliteration

avāpya mānuṣyamayaṃ kadācidvihṛtya śaṃbhoḥ paramātmarūpe | phalāni sarvāṇi tu karmajāni yāsyāmyahaṃ tattanutāṃ hi tasya

Translation

Having at some time attained a human embodiment, and having sported in the Supreme Self-form of Śambhu, I shall transcend all fruits that arise from karma and indeed attain oneness of being with Him.

Word by Word

• अवाप्य: having obtained
• अवाप्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having obtained’

• मानुष्यमयम्: made of humanity / human (state/form)
• मानुष्यमयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानुष्य + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; adjective used as object of अवाप्य

• कदाचित्: at some time/once
• कदाचित्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• विहृत्य: having sported/played
• विहृत्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having sported/roamed’

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• परमात्मरूपे: in the form of the Supreme Self
• परमात्मरूपे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location/state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + आत्मन् + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative singular

• फलानि: fruits/results
• फलानि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; adjective agreeing with फलानि

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (contrast/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• कर्मजानि: born of actions
• कर्मजानि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्म + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; adjective agreeing with फलानि

• यास्यामि: I shall go/attain
• यास्यामि: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/लृट्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Pronoun nominative singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; demonstrative used adjectivally with तनुताम्

• तनुताम्: thinness/leanness
• तनुताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; goal/state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• तस्य: of that/of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; Genitive singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma-samhita discourse to the sages, conveying the aspirant’s resolve toward Śiva-realization)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it is a mokṣa-intent verse: through human birth and ‘sporting’ (vihṛtya) in Śambhu’s paramātma-rūpa, one transcends karma-phala.

Significance: Articulates the telos of pilgrimage and worship: not merely punya or svarga, but karma-phalātīta liberation and sāyujya/sārūpya-like participation in Śiva’s nature (as framed by the text).

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Karma-phala transcendence (karmātīta) and liberation orientation within saṃsāra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares the Shaiva goal: by realizing Śambhu as the Paramātman, the seeker rises beyond karma-born results and attains Śiva-sāmīpya/sārūpya—sharing in His divine nature, i.e., liberation from pāśa (bondage).

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

Worship of the Śiva-liṅga (saguṇa upāsanā) is a practical support for concentrating the mind on Śambhu; through devotion and contemplation, the worshipper is led to the higher recognition of Śiva as Paramātman (nirguṇa truth), which alone ends karma-phala.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as Paramātman while repeating the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and offer liṅga-pūjā with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids for steadiness and purity, aiming at freedom from karma’s fruits.