Shloka 4

छायापुरुषलक्षणवर्णनम्

Description of the Marks of the Shadow-Person

Devanagari script

सूर्य्यं हि पृष्ठतः कृत्वा सोमं वा वरवर्णिनि । शुक्लाम्बरधरस्स्रग्वी गंधधूपादिवासितः

Transliteration

sūryyaṃ hi pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā somaṃ vā varavarṇini | śuklāmbaradharassragvī gaṃdhadhūpādivāsitaḥ

Translation

O fair-complexioned lady, placing the Sun behind him—or else the Moon—he should wear white garments, a garland, and be perfumed with fragrance, incense, and the like.

Word by Word

• सूर्यम्: the sun
• सूर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• पृष्ठतः: behind/at the back
• पृष्ठतः: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) ‘from/at the back’

• कृत्वा: having placed/made
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); ‘having made/placing’

• सोमम्: the moon/Soma
• सोमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: soma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle: or)

• वरवर्णिनि: O fair-complexioned one
• वरवर्णिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara + varṇinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (excellent-complexioned lady)

• शुक्लाम्बरधरः: wearing white garments
• शुक्लाम्बरधरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śukla + ambara + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शुक्लम् अम्बरं धरति)

• स्रग्वी: garlanded
• स्रग्वी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sragvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; मतुप्/इन्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (possessor): ‘having a garland’

• गन्धधूपादिवासितः: perfumed with fragrance, incense, etc.
• गन्धधूपादिवासितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gandha + dhūpa + ādi + vāsita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (गन्धधूपादिभिः वासितः = perfumed with fragrance, incense, etc.); ‘आदि’ अव्यय-तुल्य घटक

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Surya
• Soma

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-puja is supported by sattvic preparation—right orientation, cleanliness, and devotional adornment—so the mind becomes steady and fit for reverent worship of Pati (Shiva).

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

The verse describes external upacāras (white clothing, garland, fragrance, incense) that accompany Saguna worship, helping the devotee approach the Linga with purity, respect, and focused bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Before worship, sit or stand with the Sun (or Moon) behind you, then perform Shiva-puja with incense and fragrance while maintaining a calm, sattvic demeanor—supporting japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and concentrated attention.