Shloka 17

Gautama–Ahalyā-Upākhyāna: Durbhikṣa, Tapas, and Varuṇa’s Boon (गौतमाहल्योपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

अथोवाच मुनिं देवो वरुणो हि जलाधिपः । गौतमं मुनिशार्दूलं परोपकृतिशालिनम्

Transliteration

athovāca muniṃ devo varuṇo hi jalādhipaḥ | gautamaṃ muniśārdūlaṃ paropakṛtiśālinam

Translation

Then Varuṇa, the divine Lord of the waters, addressed the sage Gautama—foremost among seers, a tiger among munis—who was rich in the virtue of working for the welfare of others.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमसूचक अव्यय (sequencing adverb)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुनिम्: to the sage
• मुनिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वरुणः: Varuṇa
• वरुणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवः इत्यस्य विशेष्य (apposition)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: emphasis/causal)

• जल-अधिपः: lord of waters
• जल-अधिपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘जलस्य अधिपः’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गौतमम्: Gautama
• गौतमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; मुनिम् इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• मुनि-शार्दूलम्: tiger among sages
• मुनि-शार्दूलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मुनीनां शार्दूलः’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गौतमम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• पर-उपकृति-शालिनम्: one devoted to helping others
• पर-उपकृति-शालिनम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + उपकृति (प्रातिपदिक) + शालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘परोपकृतिः यस्य’ इति भावे ‘परोपकृतिशालिन्’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गौतमम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; the direct speaker within the verse is Varuna)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The narrative praises Gautama’s paropakāra (beneficence), a hallmark of tīrtha-founders: sacred acts are validated by their capacity to benefit others, not merely personal gain.

Significance: Elevates ‘service to others’ as a Śaiva virtue: worship that becomes loka-hita aligns the devotee with Śiva’s compassionate lordship.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Varuna
• Gautama

FAQs

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

The verse sanctifies the ideal Shaiva virtue of paropakāra (selfless benefit to others): a purified heart becomes fit to receive divine instruction, which ultimately supports devotion to Pati (Shiva) and liberation.

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

Though the verse names Varuṇa, it frames a sacred dialogue that typically leads into tīrtha and Jyotirliṅga contexts in the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā—where Saguna Shiva is approached through pilgrimage, worship, and reverence for sanctified waters used in abhiṣeka.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate paropakāra alongside worship: perform Shiva abhiṣeka with pure water, recite the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and dedicate the merit for the welfare of all beings.