Shloka 31

नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा

The Account of Śambhu’s Incarnation that Dispels Doubts Concerning Women

Devanagari script

तथापि ज्ञातुमिच्छामि विशेषेण तु तत्त्वतः । कोयं कस्य सुतश्चायं कस्त्वमत्र समागतः

Transliteration

tathāpi jñātumicchāmi viśeṣeṇa tu tattvataḥ | koyaṃ kasya sutaścāyaṃ kastvamatra samāgataḥ

Translation

Dennoch wünsche ich klar und gemäß dem wahren Prinzip zu wissen: Wer ist dieser Mensch, wessen Sohn ist er, und wer bist du, der du hierher gekommen bist?

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-समाप्ति-सूचक (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक (quotative/end-marker)

• श्री: holy / revered
• श्री: विशेषण/उपपद (Honorific qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; मंगलसूचक उपपद (honorific)

• शिव-महा-पुराणे: in the Śiva Mahāpurāṇa
• शिव-महा-पुराणे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + महा (प्रातिपदिक) + पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास (determinative chain); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ‘in the Śiva Mahāpurāṇa’

• तृतीया-शतरुद्र-संहितायाम्: in the third Śatarudra-saṃhitā
• तृतीया-शतरुद्र-संहितायाम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृतीया (प्रातिपदिक) + शतरुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘in the third Śatarudra-saṃhitā’ (tṛtī0 normalized as तृतीया)

• भिक्षु-वर्य-आह्व-शिव-अवतार-चरित्र-वर्णनम्: the narration of the deeds of Śiva’s incarnation called ‘Bhikṣu-varya’
• भिक्षु-वर्य-आह्व-शिव-अवतार-चरित्र-वर्णनम्: विधेय-नाम (Predicate nominal/title)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षु (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आह्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतार (प्रातिपदिक) + चरित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्णन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास (multi-member determinative); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अध्यायविषय-नाम (chapter subject-title)

• नाम: named
• नाम: नामनिर्देशक (Naming particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-शब्दः (particle meaning ‘called/named’)

• एकत्रिंशः: thirty-first
• एकत्रिंशः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकत्रिंशत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगुसमास (numeral compound) functioning as numeral adjective; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; modifies ‘अध्यायः’

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: कर्ता/विधेय (Subject of colophon statement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a dialogue in which a questioning interlocutor asks for true identity and lineage)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it is an epistemic turning-point: the devotee requests tattvataḥ (in truth) identity and lineage—moving from emotional reassurance to metaphysical clarification, prompted by the Lord’s concealment (tirodhāna).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

The verse highlights tattva-vicāra—seeking truth with precision. In a Shaiva Siddhanta spirit, right inquiry into identity and purpose prepares the mind to recognize Pati (Shiva) beyond mere appearances and social labels.

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee to look past the outer form and seek the underlying reality of Shiva. This verse mirrors that movement: from surface identity (name/lineage) toward the deeper truth (tattva) that devotion ultimately aims to realize.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa with reflective inquiry: recite the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while contemplating 'Who am I in relation to Shiva (Pati)?'—supporting steady devotion grounded in right understanding.