Shloka 73

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

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

स्वाङ्गरूपेषु भावेषु मायातत्त्वविभेदधीः । शिवो यदा निजं रूपं परमैश्वर्य्यपूर्वकम्

Transliteration

svāṅgarūpeṣu bhāveṣu māyātattvavibhedadhīḥ | śivo yadā nijaṃ rūpaṃ paramaiśvaryyapūrvakam

Translation

சிவன்—தன் அங்கங்களாகத் தோன்றும் நிலைகளில் வெளிப்படும் மாயா தத்துவங்களின் வேறுபாட்டைத் தெளிவாக அறியும் பரிசுத்த ஞானம் உடையவன்—தன் நிஜ ரூபத்தை வெளிப்படுத்தும் போது, அது பரம ஐஸ்வர்யத்தின் முன்னோட்டத்தோடு நிகழ்கிறது।

Word by Word

• स्व-अङ्ग-रूपेषु: in (his) own-limbed forms
• स्व-अङ्ग-रूपेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाङ्गरूप (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + अङ्ग + रूप)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; Locative plural neuter

• भावेषु: in states/manifestations
• भावेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; Locative plural masculine

• माया-तत्त्व-विभेद-धीः: (having) intellect discerning distinctions of māyā-tattva
• माया-तत्त्व-विभेद-धीः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मायातत्त्वविभेदधी (प्रातिपदिक; माया + तत्त्व + विभेद + धी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विशेषण), एकवचन; Nominative singular feminine; बहुसमास-प्रातिपदिक (one whose intellect discerns distinctions of māyā-tattva)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; Nominative singular masculine

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-सम्बन्ध (when)

• निजम्: his own
• निजम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular neuter (agreeing with रूपम्)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular neuter

• परम-ऐश्वर्य-पूर्वकम्: endowed with supreme sovereignty
• परम-ऐश्वर्य-पूर्वकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमैश्वर्यपूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक; परम + ऐश्वर्य + पूर्वक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular neuter (agreeing with रूपम्); ‘preceded by/supplied with supreme lordliness’

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maya

FAQs

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

It teaches that the world of differentiated experience arises through Māyā-tattvas, yet Śiva remains the sovereign Pati who can disclose His true nature; liberation comes through right discernment (viveka) and Śiva’s grace.

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

The Liṅga and saguna forms are compassionate revelations within Māyā for devotees; this verse points beyond them to Śiva’s own essential reality, which is revealed by His supreme lordship while still supporting worship through accessible forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice tattva-viveka with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and meditation on Śiva as Pati beyond Māyā, supported by traditional Shaiva aids like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa for steadiness and purity.