Shloka 39

मेना-शिवदर्शन-प्रस्थानम् | Menā’s Quest to Behold Śiva

Departure for Śiva’s Darśana

Devanagari script

तच्छोभां वर्णितुं मेने मया नैव हि शक्यते । स एवाखिलब्रह्माण्डपतिस्सर्वेश्वरः स्वराट्

Transliteration

tacchobhāṃ varṇituṃ mene mayā naiva hi śakyate | sa evākhilabrahmāṇḍapatissarveśvaraḥ svarāṭ

Translation

その光輝を語り尽くすことは、まことに私には不可能だと思われた。彼ただ一人が諸宇宙の主—主権者、万有の至上の統御者、自らを治め、独立自在なる御方である。

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘that’ (शोभाम् इति विशेषण)

• शोभाम्: splendour/beauty
• शोभाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वर्णितुम्: to describe
• वर्णितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ण् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), अव्ययभाव; अर्थ: ‘to describe’

• मेने: thought/considered
• मेने: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण/Instrument/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphasis: just/indeed)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), खलु/नूनम्

• शक्यते: is possible
• शक्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): ‘is possible’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• अखिलब्रह्माण्डपतिः: lord of the entire universe
• अखिलब्रह्माण्डपतिः: Apposition (समनाधिकरण/Identifier of सः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्माण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: अखिलस्य ब्रह्माण्डस्य पतिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; आन्तरसमास: अखिलब्रह्माण्ड)

• सर्वेश्वरः: Lord of all
• सर्वेश्वरः: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: सर्वेषाम् ईश्वरः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• स्वराट्: self-sovereign
• स्वराट्: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वराट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘self-ruling/independent sovereign’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: As Viśvanātha, Śiva is hailed as Lord of the universe; Kāśī is celebrated as his eternal seat where liberation is granted and the Lord’s sovereignty is directly experienced.

Significance: Darśana of Viśvanātha is sought for viśveśvaratva-bhāva (recognizing Śiva as Lord of all) and for mokṣa-bestowing grace in Kāśī.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmic sovereignty over innumerable brahmāṇḍas (multi-universe lordship)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse declares Shiva’s splendor as beyond ordinary speech and establishes Him as Pati—the independent Supreme Lord—pointing the devotee toward reverent humility and surrender (bhakti) as the proper response to the Infinite.

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

By affirming Shiva as Sarveśvara and Svarāṭ, it supports Saguna worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—where the devotee approaches the transcendent Lord through a sacred form, while acknowledging that His true glory ultimately exceeds description.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa with the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and contemplative dhyāna on Shiva’s boundless tejas (radiance), cultivating devotion and inner stillness rather than attempting to limit Him to concepts.