Shloka 12

छायापुरुषलक्षणवर्णनम्

Description of the Marks of the Shadow-Person

Devanagari script

सम्यक्तं पुरुषं दृष्ट्वा संनिवेश्यात्मनात्मनि । जपेन्नवात्मकं मंत्रं हृदयं मे महेश्वरि

Transliteration

samyaktaṃ puruṣaṃ dṛṣṭvā saṃniveśyātmanātmani | japennavātmakaṃ maṃtraṃ hṛdayaṃ me maheśvari

Translation

Having rightly contemplated the Supreme Person, and having seated the self within the Self, one should repeat the ninefold mantra—O Maheshvari—this is My heart-essence, the innermost teaching.

Word by Word

• सम्यक्: properly, correctly
• सम्यक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तम्: that (him)
• तम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुरुषम्: person, Puruṣa
• पुरुषम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्यय; ‘having seen’

• संनिवेश्य: having placed, having settled
• संनिवेश्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-नि-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund) रूप ‘निवेश्य/निवेशयित्वा’ अर्थे; अव्यय; ‘having placed/installed’

• आत्मना: by the self
• आत्मना: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आत्मनि: in the self
• आत्मनि: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: क्रिया (Action/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• नवात्मकम्: ninefold; consisting of nine
• नवात्मकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नव आत्मानः यस्य/यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• हृदयम्: heart (hṛdaya-mantra)
• हृदयम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मे: my
• मे: सम्बन्ध (Possessor/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• महेश्वरि: O Maheśvarī
• महेश्वरि: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that true japa is not mere recitation: after rightly contemplating Pati (Shiva) and collecting the mind inward, the practitioner abides in the Self and then repeats the mantra as Shiva’s own “heart-essence,” leading toward liberation from pāśa (bondage).

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

It supports Saguna upāsanā as a doorway to inner realization: one first holds Shiva (often approached through the Liṅga and mantra) in correct contemplation, then internalizes that worship by placing awareness in the indwelling Self where Shiva is realized as Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A meditative sequence is implied: dhyāna on Shiva, inward placement of awareness (ātma-niveśa), and mantra-japa (the ninefold mantra) as concentrated repetition—ideally supported by Shaiva disciplines like purity, bhasma/tripundra, and steady breath and mind.