Shloka 11

Dāruvana-parīkṣā: Śaṅkara’s Test and the Linga’s Ritual-Theological Grounding

Devanagari script

मनसा च प्रियं तेषां कर्तुं वै वनवासिनाम् । जगाम तद्वनं प्रीत्या भक्तप्रीतो हरः स्वयम्

Transliteration

manasā ca priyaṃ teṣāṃ kartuṃ vai vanavāsinām | jagāma tadvanaṃ prītyā bhaktaprīto haraḥ svayam

Translation

Wishing in his heart to do what would delight the forest-dwellers, Hara (Lord Śiva) himself—moved by love for his devotees—joyfully went to that forest.

Word by Word

• मनसा: with (his) mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रियम्: what is pleasing
• प्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तेषाम्: for them/of them
• तेषाम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्य), षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थ

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nishchaya (निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• वनवासिनाम्: of the forest-dwellers
• वनवासिनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनवासी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (वने वासी)

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (वनम्)

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रीत्या: with affection/joy
• प्रीत्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• भक्तप्रीतः: pleased with devotees
• भक्तप्रीतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त + प्रीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भक्तानां प्रीतः)

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta-visheshana (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वयम्-शब्दः, अव्यय (reflexive/emphatic adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it foregrounds bhakta-vātsalya: Śiva voluntarily approaches the forest-dwellers to transform them—grace initiated by the Lord rather than earned by ritual status.

Significance: Cultivates trust in Śiva’s anugraha: the Lord seeks the devotee, entering even ‘wild’ inner spaces (vana) to purify and instruct.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati (the Lord) who is naturally drawn to sincere devotion: his grace responds to the inner intention of devotees, showing that bhakti invites divine presence even in ordinary places like a forest.

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

Śiva is portrayed as Saguna—approachable and responsive—who comes near his devotees. In Jyotirliṅga narratives, this same compassion culminates in Śiva manifesting for devotees as the Liṅga, making his presence accessible for worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse emphasizes manas (inner intention), suggesting mental worship (mānasa-pūjā) supported by bhakti—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a focused, pleasing intention toward Śiva.