Shloka 20

वसन्त-प्रभावः तथा काम-उद्दीपन-वर्णनम् | Spring’s Influence and the Arousal of Kāma

Devanagari script

ज्वलज्ज्वालाग्निसंकाशं भालनेत्रसमन्वितम् । ध्यानस्थं शंकरं को वा समासादयितुं क्षमः

Transliteration

jvalajjvālāgnisaṃkāśaṃ bhālanetrasamanvitam | dhyānasthaṃ śaṃkaraṃ ko vā samāsādayituṃ kṣamaḥ

Translation

مَن ذا الذي يقدر حقًّا أن يقترب من شانكارا، المتوهّج كالنار المشتعلة، ذو العين الثالثة على الجبين، المقيم غارقًا في التأمّل؟

Word by Word

• ज्वलत्: blazing
• ज्वलत्: विशेषण (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ज्वल् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), प्रातिपदिकरूपेण समासपूर्वपद; नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनानुरूप (qualifying next)

• ज्वाला-अग्नि-संकाशम्: resembling a flame-like fire
• ज्वाला-अग्नि-संकाशम्: कर्म-विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वाला (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + संकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष (ज्वालायाः अग्नेः इव संकाशः)

• भाल-नेत्र-समन्वितम्: endowed with the forehead-eye (third eye)
• भाल-नेत्र-समन्वितम्: कर्म-विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाल (प्रातिपदिक) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; सम्+√इ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष (भाले नेत्रेण समन्वितः)

• ध्यान-स्थम्: absorbed in meditation
• ध्यान-स्थम्: कर्म-विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष (ध्येय/ध्यान में स्थित)

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• कः: who
• कः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• वा: indeed / possibly
• वा: सम्बन्ध (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक/प्रश्नार्थक निपात (particle: or/indeed in question)

• समासादयितुम्: to approach, to reach
• समासादयितुम्: कर्म-प्रवृत्ति/उद्देश्य (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√सद् (धातु) + णिच् + तुमुन्
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थ (purpose)

• क्षमः: capable
• क्षमः: कर्ता-विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषण/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages, describing Śiva’s formidable meditative form in the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa context)

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 highlights Śiva as the supreme Yogin—radiant with tapas (inner fire) and marked by the forehead-eye of higher consciousness—showing that the finite self (paśu) cannot ‘reach’ Him by ego or mere effort, but approaches through humility, purity, and His grace.

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

It points to Saguna Śiva as a tangible focus for contemplation: the blazing presence and bhālanetra are meditated upon in icon and Liṅga-worship, where the devotee approaches the Lord through upāsanā (worship) and dhyāna rather than attempting to confront the absolute by pride or force.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Dhyāna on Śiva as the inner fire of awareness and on the bhālanetra (third eye) is implied; practically, one may combine japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with calm meditation, ideally supported by Śaiva disciplines like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and devotion.