Shloka 16

Śiva–Arjuna Yuddha and the Subjugation of Pride (Śiva-parīkṣā)

Devanagari script

यथोक्तं वेदशास्त्रेषु पुराणे पुरुषोत्तमम् । व्यासोपदिष्टं ध्यानाय तस्य यत्सर्वसिद्धिदम्

Transliteration

yathoktaṃ vedaśāstreṣu purāṇe puruṣottamam | vyāsopadiṣṭaṃ dhyānāya tasya yatsarvasiddhidam

Translation

ವೇದಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಪುರಾಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಹೇಳಿದಂತೆ, ಧ್ಯಾನಾರ್ಥವಾಗಿ ವ್ಯಾಸರು ಉಪದೇಶಿಸಿದ ಆ ಪುರುಷೋತ್ತಮನು ಧ್ಯಾನಿಸುವವನಿಗೆ ಸರ್ವಸಿದ್ಧಿಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡುತ್ತಾನೆ।

Word by Word

• यथा: as/according to
• यथा: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/according as)

• उक्तम्: said
• उक्तम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘said/declared’

• वेद-शास्त्रेषु: in the Vedas and śāstras
• वेद-शास्त्रेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (वेदाश्च शास्त्राणि च)

• पुराणे: in the Purāṇa
• पुराणे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुरुषोत्तमम्: the Supreme Person (Puruṣottama)
• पुरुषोत्तमम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुरुषाणाम् उत्तमः)

• व्यास-उपदिष्टम्: taught by Vyāsa
• व्यास-उपदिष्टम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक) + उपदिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; √दिश्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (व्यासेन उपदिष्टम् = instructed by Vyāsa)

• ध्यानाय: for meditation
• ध्यानाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (for the purpose of meditation)

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• यत्: which
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• सर्व-सिद्धि-दम्: bestowing all accomplishments
• सर्व-सिद्धि-दम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक; √दा)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वासां सिद्धीनां दम्/दातृ = giving all attainments)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vyasa

FAQs

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

It affirms that meditation on the Supreme Lord (understood in this Śaiva context as Pati—Lord Shiva) is scripturally grounded in Veda, śāstra, and Purāṇa, and that such dhyāna becomes a direct means to spiritual attainments culminating in liberation.

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

By emphasizing “dhyāna” taught by Vyāsa, the verse supports Saguna upāsanā as a valid gateway: the meditator may contemplate Shiva through accessible sacred forms (such as the Liṅga or a divine icon) while realizing Him as the Supreme Reality praised across scriptures.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to disciplined dhyāna (meditation) as the core practice—typically supported in Śaiva practice by mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with purity observances such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where prescribed.