Shloka 15

Śiva-Śakti Tattva, Varṇa-Rahasya, and Mahāvākya-Bhāvanā

Interpretive Discipline

Devanagari script

तं शम्भुनाथं श्रुतयो वदन्ति हि हिरण्मयम् । हिरण्य बाहव इति सर्वांगस्यो पलक्षलम्

Transliteration

taṃ śambhunāthaṃ śrutayo vadanti hi hiraṇmayam | hiraṇya bāhava iti sarvāṃgasyo palakṣalam

Translation

Los Vedas proclaman en verdad que el Señor Śambhu es “hiraṇmaya”, de esplendor dorado y radiante. La expresión “hiraṇya-bāhavaḥ” (de brazos de oro) es un signo indicativo de todo su Ser, que significa la auspiciosa efluvencia que lo impregna en todos sus miembros.

Word by Word

• तम्: him/that one
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शम्भु-नाथम्: Śambhunātha (Lord Śambhu)
• शम्भु-नाथम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक) + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘शम्भोः नाथः’ (lord of Śambhu / Śambhu as lord)

• श्रुतयः: the Vedas/Śrutis
• श्रुतयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• वदन्ति: say, declare
• वदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (for indeed/for)

• हिरण्मयम्: golden, made of gold
• हिरण्मयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिरण्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘तम्’)

• हिरण्य: gold
• हिरण्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quoted term)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (उद्धृतपद/नाम)

• बाहवः: arms
• बाहवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक-अव्यय (quotative)

• सर्व-अङ्गस्य: of the whole body
• सर्व-अङ्गस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘सर्वम् अङ्गम्’ → ‘सर्वाङ्ग’

• उपलक्षणम्: indicative mark, sign (by implication)
• उपलक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपलक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa-saṃhitā teaching to the sages, summarizing Vedic epithets of Śiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: hiraṇmayaṃ… hiraṇya-bāhavaḥ

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms that Śiva, the supreme Pati (Lord), is recognized by the Śrutis as hiraṇmaya—pure, auspicious radiance—indicating His capacity to illumine and liberate the bound soul (paśu) from bondage (pāśa).

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

The verse supports Saguna contemplation: devotees may worship Śiva’s manifest auspicious form—symbolized in the Liṅga as the radiant presence—while understanding that the ‘golden’ description points to His divine consciousness and glory rather than mere physical color.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as inner light while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); in ritual worship, offer lamps (dīpa) and contemplate that the Lord’s effulgence pervades all limbs—purifying the mind toward Śiva-jñāna.