Shloka 35

शक्तितत्त्ववर्णनम् / Exposition of the Principle of Śakti

Devanagari script

शिवरूपादिचिंता या सा सेवा मानसी स्मृता । जपादिर्वाचिकी सेवा कर्मपूजादि कायिकी

Transliteration

śivarūpādiciṃtā yā sā sevā mānasī smṛtā | japādirvācikī sevā karmapūjādi kāyikī

Translation

Contemplation upon Śiva—upon His form and the like—is remembered as mental service (mānasa-sevā). Service through speech is japa and related recitations; and bodily service consists of ritual action such as worship and offerings.

Word by Word

• शिवरूपादिचिन्ता: contemplation on Śiva’s form etc.
• शिवरूपादिचिन्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + रूप + आदि + चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य रूपम् आदि यस्याः सा चिन्ता / शिवरूप-आदि-विषया चिन्ता)

• या: which
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• सा: that
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• सेवा: service
• सेवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• मानसी: mental
• मानसी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण—‘सेवा’

• स्मृता: is considered/called
• स्मृता: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्मृ)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.); ‘कथ्यते/उच्यते’ इत्यर्थे विधेय-विशेषण

• जपादिः: japa and the like
• जपादिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘जपः आदिः यस्य’ = japa etc.)

• वाचिकी: verbal
• वाचिकी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाचिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण—‘सेवा’

• सेवा: service
• सेवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• कर्मपूजादि: ritual action, worship, etc.
• कर्मपूजादि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म + पूजा + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.) (समाहारार्थे), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘कर्मरूपा पूजा’/‘कर्म-पूजा’ + आदि)

• कायिकी: bodily/physical
• कायिकी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कायिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण—‘सेवा’ (अनुक्ता)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Maps concrete sādhana: dhyāna (mānasa), japa (vācika), and karmapūjā (kāyika). This is a practical template for pilgrims/householders to structure daily Śiva-upāsanā.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (Implied by 'japādi'): oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It classifies Shiva-worship as threefold—mental (inner contemplation), verbal (japa and recitation), and physical (pūjā and ritual acts)—showing that devotion can be complete when mind, speech, and body are aligned with Pati (Śiva).

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

Mental service supports Saguna contemplation of Śiva’s form and qualities, verbal service sustains mantra-japa (commonly the Panchākṣarī), and physical service expresses itself as liṅga-pūjā through offerings and prescribed ritual actions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice mānasa-dhyāna on Śiva’s form, perform vācika-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and complete it with kāyika-pūjā such as liṅgārcana with offerings; this verse especially highlights japa and karma-pūjā as core methods.