Shloka 37

Glorification of Vārāṇasī: Kapardīśvara Liṅga and the Piśācamocana Tīrtha

Devanagari script

सहस्रपादाक्षिशिरोभियुक्तं सहस्ररूपं तमसः परस्तात् । तं ब्रह्मपारं प्रणमामि शंभुं हिरण्यगर्भाधिपतिं त्रिनेत्रम्

Transliteration

sahasrapādākṣiśirobhiyuktaṃ sahasrarūpaṃ tamasaḥ parastāt | taṃ brahmapāraṃ praṇamāmi śaṃbhuṃ hiraṇyagarbhādhipatiṃ trinetram

Translation

Aku menunduk sujud kepada Śambhu—yang memiliki seribu kaki, mata dan kepala, seribu rupa, melampaui kegelapan; Dialah tebing seberang Brahman; penguasa Hiraṇyagarbha, Yang Bermata Tiga.

Word by Word

• सहस्रपादाक्षिशिरोभिः: with (his) thousand feet, eyes, and heads
• सहस्रपादाक्षिशिरोभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + पाद + अक्षि + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); समाहार-द्वन्द्वसमास (collective dvandva) with final inflection on whole compound

• युक्तम्: endowed/possessed
• युक्तम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); agrees with implied object (tam)

• सहस्ररूपम्: of a thousand forms
• सहस्ररूपम्: कर्म (Karma/Object) (as qualifier of तम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive sense: 'of a thousand forms' → 'thousand-formed')

• तमसः: from darkness
• तमसः: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• परस्तात्: beyond, on the far side
• परस्तात्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative circumstance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) / देशवाचक (locative-adverbial sense)

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• ब्रह्मपारम्: the one beyond Brahman / the far shore of Brahman
• ब्रह्मपारम्: कर्म (Karma/Object) (as qualifier of तम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म + पार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive sense: 'beyond Brahman' / 'having Brahman as the far shore') used as epithet

• प्रणमामि: I bow (to)
• प्रणमामि: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present/Indicative), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• शम्भुम्: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object) (apposition to तम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेष्य (appositional to तम्)

• हिरण्यगर्भाधिपतिम्: lord of Hiraṇyagarbha
• हिरण्यगर्भाधिपतिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object) (apposition/epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्यगर्भ + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('lord of Hiraṇyagarbha')

• त्रिनेत्रम्: three-eyed
• त्रिनेत्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object) (as qualifier/epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समास ('three-eyed') used as epithet

Speaker

Unspecified (a eulogistic verse of praise within the narrative context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: सहस्रपादाक्षिशिरोभियुक्तम् = सहस्रपादाक्षिशिरोभिः + युक्तम्; हिरण्यगर्भाधिपतिम् = हिरण्यगर्भ + अधिपतिम्.

Characters & Entities

• Śambhu (Śiva)
• Hiraṇyagarbha (cosmic embryo/creator principle; often identified with Brahmā)

FAQs

Why does the verse describe Śiva as having “a thousand feet, eyes, and heads”?

It uses cosmic-body imagery (a common Purāṇic/Vedic idiom) to express Śiva’s all-pervading, universal sovereignty—suggesting omnipresence and omniscience rather than a literal physical count.

What does “tamasaḥ parastāt” (beyond darkness) imply here?

It indicates transcendence beyond tamas—darkness, ignorance, and the obscuring power of māyā—portraying Śiva as the luminous reality beyond limitation and delusion.

How should “hiraṇyagarbhādhipati” be understood in relation to creation?

It presents Śiva as the lord of Hiraṇyagarbha (the cosmic embryo/creator principle, often associated with Brahmā), implying that the creative principle operates under Śiva’s higher sovereignty.