Shloka 14

छायापुरुषलक्षणवर्णनम्

Description of the Marks of the Shadow-Person

Devanagari script

पुनरन्यत्प्रवक्ष्यामि शक्तिं ज्ञातुं दुरासदाम् । प्रत्यक्षं दृश्यते लोके ज्ञानिनामग्रतः स्थितम्

Transliteration

punaranyatpravakṣyāmi śaktiṃ jñātuṃ durāsadām | pratyakṣaṃ dṛśyate loke jñānināmagrataḥ sthitam

Translation

ಮತ್ತೆ ಇನ್ನೊಂದನ್ನು ಹೇಳುತ್ತೇನೆ—ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಯುವುದು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ದುರ್ಗಮ; ಆದರೂ ಈ ಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವಳು ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷವಾಗಿ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಾಳೆ, ಜ್ಞಾನಿಗಳ ಅಗ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಕಟವಾಗಿ ನಿಂತಿರುತ್ತಾಳೆ।

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अन्यत्: another (thing)
• अन्यत्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: क्रिया (Action/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• शक्तिम्: power
• शक्तिम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ज्ञातुम्: to know
• ज्ञातुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), अव्यय; ‘to know’

• दुरासदाम्: hard to approach/attain
• दुरासदाम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of śaktim)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + आसद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (दुरासदा = दुष्करम् आसद्या), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रत्यक्षम्: directly perceptible
• प्रत्यक्षम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रत्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• दृश्यते: is seen, appears
• दृश्यते: क्रिया (Action/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• ज्ञानिनाम्: of the wise
• ज्ञानिनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अग्रतः: in front (of)
• अग्रतः: अधिकरण (Adverbial-locative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• स्थितम्: standing, situated
• स्थितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of pratyakṣam)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śakti is subtle and not easily captured by ordinary intellect, yet becomes directly evident to jñānins whose awareness is purified—pointing to experiential knowledge (anubhava) over mere theory.

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

Linga worship trains the mind to recognize the manifest presence of Shiva’s Power in form; through disciplined devotion to Saguna Shiva, the seeker becomes fit to perceive the ever-present Śakti that the wise see directly.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with dhyāna on Shiva-Shakti, supported by Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and inner contemplation, is implied as the way to mature into direct perception.