Shloka 23

पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा

Praise of Water-Gift and the Construction of Wells and Tanks

Devanagari script

सत्यमेव परं ब्रह्म सत्यमेव परं तपः । सत्यमेव परो यज्ञस्सत्यमेव परं श्रुतम्

Transliteration

satyameva paraṃ brahma satyameva paraṃ tapaḥ | satyameva paro yajñassatyameva paraṃ śrutam

Translation

सत्यमेव परं ब्रह्म, सत्यमेव परं तपः; सत्यमेव परो यज्ञः, सत्यमेव परं श्रुतम्।

Word by Word

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्रह्म)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman (Absolute)
• ब्रह्म: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तपः)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• परः: supreme
• परः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (यज्ञः)

• यज्ञः: sacrifice
• यज्ञः: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (श्रुतम्)

• श्रुतम्: the Veda / sacred revelation
• श्रुतम्: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुत (कृदन्त; √श्रु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक (that which is heard; Veda)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Umā/Parvati in the Umāsaṃhitā’s philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse establishes Satya (truthfulness aligned with Reality) as the highest spiritual principle—greater than external merit—because it purifies the soul (pashu) and makes it fit for Shiva’s grace (Pati), leading toward liberation.

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

Linga-worship is not merely ritual; it must be grounded in satya—integrity of speech, mind, and conduct. In Shaiva understanding, truthful living becomes an inner offering to Saguna Shiva, making outer puja effective and spiritually transformative.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt satya as a daily vrata: speak truth without harm, keep vows during puja/fasts (especially Mahashivratri), and pair japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with self-audit of truthfulness as the core tapas.