Shloka 24

छायापुरुषलक्षणवर्णनम्

Description of the Marks of the Shadow-Person

Devanagari script

इत्येतत्कथितं देवि भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम् । किमन्यत्पृच्छ्यते तत्त्वं वद सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते

Transliteration

ityetatkathitaṃ devi bhuktimuktiphalapradam | kimanyatpṛcchyate tattvaṃ vada satyaṃ bravīmi te

Translation

Thus, O Goddess, this has been explained—bestowing the fruits of both bhukti (worldly enjoyment) and mukti (liberation). What other truth do you wish to ask? Speak; I shall tell you the truly established reality.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Discourse marker (वाक्यचिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative/iti)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma/Topic (कर्म/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'कथितम्' इत्यस्य विषयः

• कथितम्: has been stated
• कथितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'said/told'

• देवि: O Goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम्: granting the fruits of enjoyment and liberation
• भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्ति + मुक्ति + फल + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (समाहार/षष्ठीभाव: भुक्तेः मुक्तेः च फलम्; तत् प्रददाति), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'एतत्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma/Topic (कर्म/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अन्यत्: other/else
• अन्यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'किम्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पृच्छ्यते: is asked
• पृच्छ्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive)

• तत्त्वम्: truth/principle
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वद: speak/tell
• वद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सत्यम्: truthfully
• सत्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative): 'truthfully'

• ब्रवीमि: I say
• ब्रवीमि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी विभक्ति (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse affirms that Shiva’s instruction is complete and “fruit-giving” on two levels: it supports dharmic well-being in the world (bhukti) and culminates in liberation (mukti). It also highlights Shiva as the truthful revealer of tattva—ultimate reality—when approached with sincere inquiry.

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

By promising both bhukti and mukti, the verse reflects the Purana’s teaching that Saguna worship—such as Linga devotion with mantra and offerings—purifies the soul and loosens pāśa (bondage), eventually guiding the devotee toward realization of Shiva-tattva beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steadiness in Shiva-upāsanā aimed at both purification and liberation—classically expressed in the Purana through japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), Linga-archana, and disciplined devotion that aligns desire (bhukti) with the higher goal of mukti.