Shloka 3

Devanagari script

शशिनस्तु प्रमाणाय जगतः परिचक्षते । रवेरूर्ध्वं शशी तस्थौ लक्षयोजनसंख्यया

Transliteration

śaśinastu pramāṇāya jagataḥ paricakṣate | raverūrdhvaṃ śaśī tasthau lakṣayojanasaṃkhyayā

Translation

人々は月をもって世界の秩序を量る標準と説き、月は太陽の上方に十万ヨージャナ隔たって在るという。

Word by Word

• शशिनः: of the moon
• शशिनः: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• प्रमाणाय: as a measure/standard
• प्रमाणाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• परि-चक्षते: they describe/declare
• परि-चक्षते: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• रवेः: of the sun
• रवेः: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• ऊर्ध्वम्: above
• ऊर्ध्वम्: देशाधिकरण (locative sense/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावप्राय)
• Form: दिशावाचक-अव्यय (adverb of direction)

• शशी: the moon
• शशी: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तस्थौ: stood/was situated
• तस्थौ: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लक्ष-योजन-संख्यया: by the count of a lakh yojanas
• लक्ष-योजन-संख्यया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक) + संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमासः (लक्षयोजनानां संख्या)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Purāṇic cosmology to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Vāmadeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Purāṇic astronomical hierarchy: Moon above Sun by 100,000 yojanas; Moon as pramāṇa (standard)

Characters & Entities

• Moon (Chandra)
• Sun (Surya)

FAQs

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

It presents the universe as an intelligible, measured order (pramāṇa), encouraging discernment: the seeker learns to see creation as structured under higher law, ultimately pointing beyond the seen world to Pati (Śiva) as the supreme ground of order.

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

By describing the ordered placement of luminaries, the text supports Saguna contemplation—meditating on Śiva as the Lord who upholds cosmic functions—while the Liṅga worship internalizes this order into a single focus of devotion leading toward the transcendence of Nirguna Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady attention (dhyāna) on Śiva as the inner light that surpasses sun and moon; optionally, accompany with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and a calm, regular daily practice.