Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

सुप्रसन्नः शिवो जातः शिवा च जगदम्बिका । धृतं तया च तल्लिंगं तेन रूपेण वै तदा

Transliteration

suprasannaḥ śivo jātaḥ śivā ca jagadambikā | dhṛtaṃ tayā ca talliṃgaṃ tena rūpeṇa vai tadā

Translation

Then Lord Śiva became exceedingly gracious, and Śivā—the Mother of the universe—was likewise filled with auspicious joy. At that time she held that very Liṅga, abiding in that same form.

Word by Word

• सुप्रसन्नः: very pleased
• सुप्रसन्नः: कर्ता-विशेषण (of शिवः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (सु-प्रसन्नः = अतिशयेन प्रसन्नः)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• जातः: became, was (born)
• जातः: क्रिया/विधेय (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; धातु: जन् (प्रादुर्भावे)

• शिवा: Śivā (Pārvatī)
• शिवा: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• जगदम्बिका: Mother of the world
• जगदम्बिका: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + अम्बिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (जगतः अम्बिका)

• धृतम्: held, borne
• धृतम्: क्रिया/विधेय (predicate: ‘was held’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; धातु: धृ (धारणे)

• तया: by her
• तया: करण/कर्ता (agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म-विशेषण (of लिङ्गम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तेन: by that/with that
• तेन: करण (instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• रूपेण: in that form
• रूपेण: करण/प्रकार (manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: विशेषण-निपात (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक (indeed)

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Śiva and Jagadambikā become ‘suprasanna’; the Goddess bears/holds the liṅga ‘in that very form’, indicating a divinely sanctioned manifestation and stabilization of Śiva’s presence for the world’s benefit.

Significance: Highlights grace (anugraha) as the decisive cause: ritual culminates in divine consent, and the liṅga becomes a stable locus for devotees to approach the transcendent Lord.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Jagadambika
• Linga

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace) and the divine concord of Śiva-Śakti: when the Lord is supremely pleased, the Jagadambikā sustains the Liṅga, indicating that the Liṅga is upheld and revealed through Śakti and approached through devotion.

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

By stating that the Goddess holds “that very Liṅga” in “that very form,” the text affirms Liṅga-upāsanā as a concrete, saguna support through which devotees access the transcendent Śiva—Nirguṇa in essence yet mercifully present as the worshipful Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady Liṅga-bhakti: perform Liṅga-pūjā with reverence, mentally contemplate Śiva’s prasāda (grace), and repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while visualizing Śiva-Śakti united in the Liṅga.