Shloka 41

Lokapramāṇa–Grahamaṇḍala–Dhruvaloka-vyavasthā

Cosmic Measures and the Arrangement of the Heavenly Spheres

Devanagari script

तत्पालः कृष्णनामा हि राजते शंकराज्ञया । प्रतिष्ठितश्शिवेनैव शक्त्या स्वच्छन्दचारिणा

Transliteration

tatpālaḥ kṛṣṇanāmā hi rājate śaṃkarājñayā | pratiṣṭhitaśśivenaiva śaktyā svacchandacāriṇā

Translation

Its guardian, indeed named Kṛṣṇa, shines forth by Śaṅkara’s command—established by Śiva Himself through His sovereign Śakti that moves in perfect freedom.

Word by Word

• tat-pālaḥ: its guardian
• tat-pālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive: 'its protector/guardian')

• kṛṣṇa-nāmā: named Kṛṣṇa
• kṛṣṇa-nāmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (possessive: 'whose name is Kṛṣṇa')

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• rājate: shines; is splendid
• rājate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rāj (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• śaṃkara-ājñayā: by Śaṅkara’s command
• śaṃkara-ājñayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक) + ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('by Śaṅkara’s command')

• pratiṣṭhitaḥ: established
• pratiṣṭhitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prati-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'established/installed'

• śivena: by Śiva
• śivena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• eva: indeed; only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle: 'only/indeed')

• śaktyā: by (his) power
• śaktyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• svacchanda-cāriṇā: acting freely (at will)
• svacchanda-cāriṇā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + chanda (प्रातिपदिक) + cārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (adjectival: 'moving/acting at one’s own will')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Shankara

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes that protection and order function through Śiva’s ājñā (divine command) and His Śakti; in Shaiva Siddhānta, Pati (Śiva) is the supreme governor, and Śakti is His operative power that establishes and sustains dharma.

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

By portraying Śiva as the one who ‘establishes’ (pratiṣṭhita) through Śakti, it echoes how Saguna Śiva is approached in worship: the devotee honors Śiva’s manifest governance—often centered on the Liṅga as the focal form of His presence and authority.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is ājñā-anusandhāna—meditating on living by Śiva’s command—supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to align one’s will with Śiva-Śakti’s sovereign order.