Shloka 8

शिवस्यार्द्धनारीनरावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Ardhanārī-nara Manifestation

Devanagari script

ततः पूर्णचिदीशस्य मूर्तिमाविश्य कामदाम् । अर्द्धनारीनरो भूत्वा ततो ब्रह्मान्तिकं हरः

Transliteration

tataḥ pūrṇacidīśasya mūrtimāviśya kāmadām | arddhanārīnaro bhūtvā tato brahmāntikaṃ haraḥ

Translation

Dann trat Hara (Śiva) in die wunscherfüllende Gestalt des Herrn ein, der vollkommenes Bewusstsein ist, und wurde zu Ardhanārī—halb Frau, halb Mann—; darauf begab er sich in die Gegenwart Brahmās.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Desha/Kala-adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• पूर्ण-चित्-ईशस्य: of the Lord of perfect consciousness
• पूर्ण-चित्-ईशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः; पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive), एकवचनम्

• मूर्तिम्: form; embodiment
• मूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• आविश्य: having entered
• आविश्य: Kriya-viseshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तः (Absolutive/Gerund), ‘having entered’

• कामदाम्: wish-granting
• कामदाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (मूर्तिम् इति)

• अर्द्ध-नारी-नरः: the half-woman half-man (form)
• अर्द्ध-नारी-नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + नारी (प्रातिपदिक) + नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (अर्द्धनारी च नरश्च इव/अर्द्धनारी-नरः); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya-viseshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तः (Absolutive/Gerund), ‘having become’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Desha/Kala-adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम्

• ब्रह्म-अन्तिकम्: near Brahmā; to Brahmā’s vicinity
• ब्रह्म-अन्तिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः; नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; गत्यर्थकर्म (destination)

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pūrṇacit (Perfect Consciousness) who freely assumes a Saguna form for cosmic purpose, revealing the non-dual completeness of reality through the Ardhanārī (Śiva-Śakti unity).

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

Though Śiva is transcendent consciousness, devotees approach him through Saguna manifestations; Ardhanārī illustrates that all auspicious powers (śakti) and lordship (īśatva) are present in the worshipped form—just as the Liṅga signifies the one Lord with inseparable power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Ardhanārīśvara while reciting the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplating the inseparability of Śiva (consciousness) and Śakti (graceful power) as a focus for inner harmony and devotion.