Shloka 5

छायापुरुषलक्षणवर्णनम्

Description of the Marks of the Shadow-Person

Devanagari script

संस्मरेन्मे महामंत्रं सर्वकामफलप्रदम् । नवात्मकं पिंडभूतं स्वां छायां संनिरीक्षयेत्

Transliteration

saṃsmarenme mahāmaṃtraṃ sarvakāmaphalapradam | navātmakaṃ piṃḍabhūtaṃ svāṃ chāyāṃ saṃnirīkṣayet

Translation

One should recollect My great mantra, bestower of the fruits of all rightful desires. Contemplating it as ninefold and embodied as a subtle whole, one should steadily behold one’s own shadow as a support for inward meditation.

Word by Word

• संस्मरेत्: let (him) remember
• संस्मरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• मे: of me / my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (Pronoun)

• महामन्त्रम्: the great mantra
• महामन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) = महा + मन्त्र
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• सर्वकामफलप्रदम्: bestowing all desired fruits
• सर्वकामफलप्रदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + काम + फल + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying महामन्त्रम्)

• नवात्मकम्: ninefold / of nine forms
• नवात्मकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (महामन्त्रम्)

• पिण्डभूतम्: embodied as a mass/whole
• पिण्डभूतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिण्ड + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (महामन्त्रम्)

• स्वाम्: one's own
• स्वाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (छायाम्)

• छायाम्: shadow
• छायाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• संनिरीक्षयेत्: should observe / should look at
• संनिरीक्षयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + नि + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/Potential), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva’s mantra is both a giver of worldly fruits and a yogic means for inner transformation, turning the mind from outward craving toward steady, inward contemplation aligned with Pati (Shiva).

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

By emphasizing mantra-smaraṇa and a concrete meditative support, it reflects Saguna-oriented practice (upāsanā with a support) that purifies the devotee and matures into deeper realization of Shiva beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra recollection/japa followed by focused contemplation using a simple support—here, ‘one’s shadow’—to stabilize attention and draw awareness inward for dhyāna.