Shloka 21

छायापुरुषलक्षणवर्णनम्

Description of the Marks of the Shadow-Person

Devanagari script

सर्वेषां देवि यज्ञानां यत्फलं तल्लभेत्पुमान् । किं बहूक्त्या महेशानि सर्वान्कामान्समश्नुते

Transliteration

sarveṣāṃ devi yajñānāṃ yatphalaṃ tallabhetpumān | kiṃ bahūktyā maheśāni sarvānkāmānsamaśnute

Translation

O Goddess, a person attains the very fruit that comes from all sacrifices. Indeed, what need is there to say more, O Maheshani? He comes to enjoy the fulfillment of all desired ends.

Word by Word

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of yajñānām)

• devi: O Goddess
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• yajñānām: of sacrifices
• yajñānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• yat: whatever/which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of phalam)

• phalam: fruit/result
• phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; निर्देश (that)

• labhet: may obtain
• labhet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• pumān: a man/person
• pumān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• kim: what (need)
• kim: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative particle used adverbially)

• bahūktyā: by much talk; with many words
• bahūktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu-ukti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-तत्पुरुष (bahu + ukti: much speaking)

• maheśāni: O Maheśānī (consort of Maheśa)
• maheśāni: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśānī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of kāmān)

• kāmān: desires
• kāmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• samaśnute: enjoys/attains fully
• samaśnute: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √aś (धातु) + sam- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse proclaims that the Supreme Lord (Pati) can bestow the complete merit of all Vedic sacrifices through Shiva-centered worship, indicating that grace and devotion can transcend the limits of ritual karma and lead toward the highest fulfillment.

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

In the Shiva Purana, Saguna Shiva—worshiped as the Linga and as the compassionate Lord—grants the fruits attributed to many yajnas. The verse functions as a phala-shruti, emphasizing that concentrated Shiva worship can equal or surpass dispersed ritual performances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to prioritize Shiva-bhakti: perform Shiva-puja (especially Linga worship) with mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), supported by simple Shaiva observances like devotion, purity, and regular worship.