Shloka 70

Devanagari script

स्थालीस्थमग्निसंयोगादधःस्थं मुनिसत्तमः । तथेन्दुवृद्धौ सलिलमूर्द्ध्वगं भवति ध्रुवम्

Transliteration

sthālīsthamagnisaṃyogādadhaḥsthaṃ munisattamaḥ | tathenduvṛddhau salilamūrddhvagaṃ bhavati dhruvam

Translation

O best of sages, by contact with fire what is in a pot tends to move downward; likewise, with the waxing of the moon, water certainly rises upward.

Word by Word

• स्थालीस्थम्: situated in a pot
• स्थालीस्थम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थाली + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष): स्थाल्याम् स्थितम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘(सलिलम्)’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• अग्नि: of fire
• अग्नि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-एकवचन (Genitive) समासपूर्वपदत्वेन (in compound)

• संयोगात्: from contact, due to contact
• संयोगात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• अधःस्थम्: situated below; downward
• अधःस्थम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधः + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अव्ययपूर्वपद): अधः स्थितम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘(सलिलम्)’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• मुनिसत्तमः: O best of sages
• मुनिसत्तमः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): मुनीनां सत्तमः; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे प्रयोगः (address)

• तथा: likewise, thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/उपमानवाचक (thus/likewise)

• इन्दु: of the moon
• इन्दु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-एकवचन (Genitive) समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• वृद्धौ: in increase/growth
• वृद्धौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• सलिलम्: water
• सलिलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ऊर्द्ध्वगम्: moving upward
• ऊर्द्ध्वगम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्द्ध्व + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अव्ययपूर्वपद): ऊर्द्ध्वं गच्छति इति; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘सलिलम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• भवति: becomes, is
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• ध्रुवम्: certainly, surely
• ध्रुवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणवत्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचन आकृतिः; निश्चयार्थक (certainly)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Lunar waxing linked to upward movement of waters (tide-like cosmological explanation); elemental interaction (fire/heat) as causal principle

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that movement and transformation occur according to contact and conditions—just as fire and the waxing moon alter the behavior of substances—so too the bound soul (paśu) is shaped by its associations, and liberation comes by turning toward Pati (Shiva) through right orientation and discipline.

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

The verse supports the Shaiva view that devotion and worship are transformative ‘contacts’: approaching Saguna Shiva through Linga-puja, mantra, and reverence changes the devotee’s inner direction, gradually lifting consciousness upward toward Shiva’s grace and freedom.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Choose uplifting saṅga: steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), worship with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudraksha, and moon-phase mindful sadhana (calm, cooling practices during waxing) to guide the mind upward toward Shiva.