Shloka 16

Saṃjñā–Chāyā Upākhyāna: Sūrya-tejas, Substitution, and the Birth of Manu, Yama, and Yamunā

Devanagari script

छायां संतर्जयामास यदा वैवस्वतो यमः । तं शशाप ततः क्रोधाच्छाया तु कलुषीकृता

Transliteration

chāyāṃ saṃtarjayāmāsa yadā vaivasvato yamaḥ | taṃ śaśāpa tataḥ krodhācchāyā tu kaluṣīkṛtā

Translation

When Vaivasvata Yama threatened Chāyā, she—stained by agitation—cursed him in anger.

Word by Word

• chāyām: Chāyā
• chāyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chāyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• saṃtarjayāmāsa: threatened
• saṃtarjayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√tarj (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; (causative nuance in stem) ‘threatened/terrified’

• yadā: when
• yadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal conjunction/adverb)

• vaivasvataḥ: Vaivasvata (son of Vivasvat)
• vaivasvataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaivasvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (epithet of Yama)

• yamaḥ: Yama
• yamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tam: her
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (referring to chāyā), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• śaśāpa: cursed
• śaśāpa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śap (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘then/from that’

• krodhāt: from anger; out of anger
• krodhāt: Hetu (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• chāyā: Chāyā
• chāyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chāyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• kaluṣī-kṛtā: was made impure/tainted
• kaluṣī-kṛtā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kaluṣī (प्रातिपदिक) + √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-क्त (Past Passive Participle) of causative ‘kaluṣī-kṛ’: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘made impure/tainted’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Chaya

FAQs

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

It shows how krodha (anger) immediately “stains” the mind, leading even a normally restrained figure like Yama into conflict; Shaiva teaching emphasizes purification of inner mala through devotion and self-control so that actions do not bind the soul further.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is repeatedly presented as a purifier of the heart (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi); this episode highlights the need to approach Saguna Shiva with restraint and humility, transforming reactive anger into dharmic steadiness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a vow of kṣamā (forgiveness) and restraint; if following Shiva Purana observances, one may add Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudraksha as reminders to keep the mind pure and composed.