Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

मायामयी तु सा संज्ञामवोचद्भक्तितश्शुभे । किं करोमीह कार्य्यं ते कथयस्व शुचिस्मिते

Transliteration

māyāmayī tu sā saṃjñāmavocadbhaktitaśśubhe | kiṃ karomīha kāryyaṃ te kathayasva śucismite

Translation

Then that Māyā-formed one spoke with devotion: “O auspicious lady, tell me—what task shall I accomplish here for you? Speak, O you of the pure smile.”

Word by Word

• मायामयी: illusory
• मायामयी: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मायामयी (प्रातिपदिक: माया + मयट्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — ‘made of illusion/illusory’ (qualifying सा)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘she’ (the shadow/Chāyā)

• संज्ञाम्: Saṃjñā
• संज्ञाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन — ‘Saṃjñā’ (addressed/mentioned)

• अवोचत्: said
• अवोचत्: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘said/spoke’ (with अव- prefix)

• भक्तितः: with devotion
• भक्तितः: हेतु (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘out of devotion/with devotion’

• शुभे: O auspicious one
• शुभे: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन — ‘O auspicious one’

• किम्: what
• किम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन — interrogative ‘what?’

• करोमि: do I do
• करोमि: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन — ‘do I do/shall I do’

• इह: here
• इह: देशाधिकरण (Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — देशवाचक (adverb: ‘here’)

• कार्य्यम्: task/duty
• कार्य्यम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (कृदन्त; √कृ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन — ‘to be done; duty/task’ (gerundive used as noun)

• ते: your
• ते: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन — ‘of you/your’

• कथयस्व: tell
• कथयस्व: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु; नामधातु from कथा)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन — ‘tell (me)’

• शुचिस्मिते: O pure-smiling one
• शुचिस्मिते: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुचिस्मित (प्रातिपदिक: शुचि + स्मित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन — कर्मधारय-समास: ‘one whose smile is pure’

Speaker

A Māyā-formed attendant/manifestation (speaking to Umā/Parvatī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed as readiness for seva (service): even a being described as “māyāmayī” approaches the Divine with humility, showing that liberation-oriented life begins with surrender to the higher will (Pati-śakti) rather than egoic planning.

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

Saguna worship trains the devotee to ask, “What is Your command?”—placing personal action under Shiva’s and Shakti’s guidance. This verse reflects that devotional posture, which is central to Linga-upāsanā and Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on grace-guided conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is contemplative surrender: before japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya), pause and inwardly offer your actions as service—‘What shall I do for You?’—aligning intention with Shiva-bhakti.