Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

मेरुपृष्ठे तपो घोरमद्यापि चरते प्रभुः । यवीयसी तयोर्या तु यमी कन्या यशस्विनी

Transliteration

merupṛṣṭhe tapo ghoramadyāpi carate prabhuḥ | yavīyasī tayoryā tu yamī kanyā yaśasvinī

Translation

Even today the Lord continues to perform fierce austerities upon the back of Mount Meru. The younger daughter born to that pair was the illustrious maiden Yamī.

Word by Word

• मेरुपृष्ठे: on Meru’s back/slope
• मेरुपृष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मेरोः पृष्ठम्)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• घोरम्: terrible/intense
• घोरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• अद्यापि: even now/still
• अद्यापि: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; कालवाचक अव्यय (even today/still)

• चरते: practises/does
• चरते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• प्रभुः: the lord/master
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यवीयसी: younger (female)
• यवीयसी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यवीयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative) विशेषण

• तयोः: of the two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual)

• या: who (she)
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• तु: but/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• यमी: Yamī
• यमी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम

• कन्या: maiden/daughter
• कन्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यशस्विनी: glorious/famed
• यशस्विनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यशस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Meru
• Prabhu (the Lord)
• Yami

FAQs

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

The verse highlights tapas as a Shaiva means of inner purification: by disciplined austerity and yoga, the bound soul (paśu) loosens the bonds (pāśa) and turns toward the Lord (Pati), who is presented as the ever-abiding model of spiritual steadfastness.

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

By portraying the Lord as actively established in tapas on Meru, the text encourages Saguna contemplation—devotees can worship Shiva through concrete forms such as the Linga while internalizing His qualities of restraint, stillness, and unwavering yogic presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is regular tapas aligned with Shiva-upāsanā: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), meditation with breath-restraint, and purity disciplines—optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva aids to focus.