Shloka 79

Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

शिवस्य शक्तयः पञ्च संकुचदूपभास्कराः

Transliteration

śivasya śaktayaḥ pañca saṃkucadūpabhāskarāḥ

Translation

ശിവന്റെ അഞ്ചു ശക്തികൾ സംകോചിക്കുകയും വികസിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്ന പ്രഭയുള്ള സൂര്യന്മാരുപോലെ; പ്രകടനവും ലയവും എന്ന ലീലയിൽ അവൻ്റെ ഐശ്വര്യാധിപത്യം വെളിപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു.

Word by Word

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (gen. sg.)

• शक्तयः: powers (śaktis)
• शक्तयः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (nom. pl.)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे (numeral used adjectivally)

• संकुचदूपभास्कराः: (they are) sun-like (bhāskaras) with contracting/limiting adjuncts
• संकुचदूपभास्कराः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संकुचत्-ऊप-भास्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘संकुचद् ऊपाः (उपाः/उपाः = उपमान/उपाधि-रूपाः) यस्य/यासां ते’ इति; विशेषण (nom. pl.)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It points to Śiva’s fivefold divine energies as luminous powers governing revelation and concealment—showing that liberation comes by recognizing the Lord behind both manifestation and withdrawal.

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

The Liṅga symbolizes the one Pati beyond form, while these “sun-like” Śaktis explain how the same Śiva becomes accessible as Saguna—shining forth as grace and withdrawing as concealment according to His will.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the inner light (jyotis) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplating the rise and settling of awareness as His Śakti’s expansion and contraction.