Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

हस्तं वस्त्रांतरे यावदचालयत शंकरः । स्त्रीस्वभावाच्च सा तत्र लज्जिता दूरतो गता

Transliteration

hastaṃ vastrāṃtare yāvadacālayata śaṃkaraḥ | strīsvabhāvācca sā tatra lajjitā dūrato gatā

Translation

Als Śaṅkara seine Hand in die Falte des Gewandes bewegte, wurde sie—aus der natürlichen Schamhaftigkeit der Frau—in jenem Augenblick verlegen und zog sich in die Ferne zurück.

Word by Word

• हस्तम्: hand
• हस्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• वस्त्र-अन्तरे: within/inside the garment
• वस्त्र-अन्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वस्त्रस्य अन्तरम्)

• यावत्: until; as long as
• यावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/काल-सीमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/परिमाण-सीमा सूचक (as long as / until)

• अचालयत: moved; caused to move
• अचालयत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चल् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense ‘to cause to move’ (चालयति)

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• स्त्री-स्वभावात्: from (her) womanly nature
• स्त्री-स्वभावात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्त्रियाः स्वभावः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• लज्जिता: ashamed
• लज्जिता: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लज्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √लज्ज् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• दूरतः: from a distance
• दूरतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/दिशा-अर्थे (from afar)

• गता: went
• गता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √गम् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; finite sense ‘went’ with omitted auxiliary

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights the sanctity of Śiva–Pārvatī’s divine relationship, where human-like modesty and restraint appear as līlā, teaching devotees purity (śauca), self-control, and reverence within dharma while remembering Śiva as the supreme Pati beyond all limitation.

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

The verse belongs to a Saguna (personal) narrative that makes devotion accessible through Śiva’s tender, human-readable līlā; such accounts mature bhakti that ultimately culminates in Linga-worship—adoration of Śiva as the timeless Pati who is present both with form (saguṇa) and beyond form (nirguṇa).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is cultivating brahmacarya-like restraint and inner modesty, supporting japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a calm mind; optionally, worship with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to disciplined devotion.