Shloka 4

गिरिजातपः-परीक्षा तथा सप्तर्षि-आह्वानम्

Girijā’s Austerity-Test and the Summoning of the Seven Sages

Devanagari script

स्वात्मानमात्मना कृत्वा स्वात्मन्येव व्यचिंतयत् । परात्परतरं स्वस्थं निर्माय निरवग्रहम्

Transliteration

svātmānamātmanā kṛtvā svātmanyeva vyaciṃtayat | parātparataraṃ svasthaṃ nirmāya niravagraham

Translation

അവൻ തന്റെ ശക്തിയാൽ തന്നെ തന്റെ സ്വസ്വരൂപം സ്ഥാപിച്ച്, തന്റെ ആത്മാവിൽ തന്നേ ധ്യാനിച്ചു; പിന്നെ പരാത്പരമായ, സദാ സ്വസ്ഥമായ, ദോഷ-പരിമിതിയില്ലാത്ത പരമതത്ത്വത്തെ പ്രസ്ഫుటമാക്കി.

Word by Word

• स्व-आत्मानम्: his own self
• स्व-आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (स्वः आत्मा = “one’s own self”)

• आत्मना: by the Self
• आत्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• स्व-आत्मनि: in his own self
• स्व-आत्मनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• व्यचिन्तयत्: contemplated/pondered
• व्यचिन्तयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• परात्: than the supreme
• परात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तुलनार्थ (comparative base)

• परतरम्: more supreme
• परतरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative)

• स्वस्थम्: self-abiding/at ease
• स्वस्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (निरवग्रहम्)

• निर्माय: having fashioned/created
• निर्माय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + मा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• निरवग्रहम्: without obstruction/without impediment
• निरवग्रहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + अवग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (परतरम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as Pati—the supreme, self-sufficient Consciousness—who manifests creation from within Himself, remaining untouched and flawless, indicating that liberation comes through turning awareness inward to that self-established Reality.

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

Though describing the transcendent (niravagraha, beyond the beyond), it supports Linga worship as a saguna aid: the Linga symbolizes that limitless Shiva who manifests without losing transcendence, allowing devotees to approach the formless through a sacred form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Shiva-dhyana (inner contemplation) is implied—meditating on Shiva within the heart; practically, one may sit in stillness, apply Tripuṇḍra, and repeat the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while contemplating the self-established, flaw-free Lord.