Shloka 3

गौतमस्य शिवदर्शनं पापक्षयवचनं च | Gautama’s Vision of Śiva and the Teaching on Sin and Purification

Devanagari script

तदा तत्सुंदरं रूपं दृष्ट्वा शंभोर्महात्मनः । प्रणम्य शंकरं भक्त्या स्तुतिं चक्रे मुदान्वितः

Transliteration

tadā tatsuṃdaraṃ rūpaṃ dṛṣṭvā śaṃbhormahātmanaḥ | praṇamya śaṃkaraṃ bhaktyā stutiṃ cakre mudānvitaḥ

Translation

Then, beholding that exceedingly beautiful form of the great-souled Śambhu, he bowed to Śaṅkara with devotion and, filled with joy, began to offer hymns of praise.

Word by Word

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

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म-विशेषण (object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (neut. acc. sg.; demonstrative as adjective)

• सुन्दरम्: beautiful
• सुन्दरम्: कर्म-विशेषण (object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (neut. acc. sg.)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: कर्म (object of ‘seeing’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having seen)

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: सम्बन्ध (genitive: of Śambhu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (masc. gen. sg.)

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one
• महात्मनः: सम्बन्ध (genitive apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् = महा + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (masc. gen. sg.)

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having bowed’

• शङ्करम्: Śaṅkara
• शङ्करम्: कर्म (object of bowing/praising)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (masc. acc. sg.)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: करण/भाव (means/manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन (fem. instr. sg.)

• स्तुतिम्: a hymn/praise
• स्तुतिम्: कर्म (object of ‘did/made’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (fem. acc. sg.)

• चक्रे: made/composed
• चक्रे: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (liṭ, 3rd pers. sg.; ātmanepada)

• मुदान्वितः: filled with joy
• मुदान्वितः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुदान्वित = मुदा + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण (masc. nom. sg.; ‘endowed with joy’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis that Shiva’s grace is approached through bhakti: after darshan of Śambhu’s auspicious (saguna) form, the devotee responds with humility (praṇāma) and praise (stuti), transforming vision into devotional surrender.

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

Kotirudra Saṃhitā often frames pilgrimage and Jyotirliṅga devotion as ‘darshan leading to stuti.’ Here, seeing Shiva’s beautiful form represents saguna upāsanā—worship through accessible form—culminating in reverent prostration and hymns, which are also central to Liṅga worship (arcana, namaskāra, stotra).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is indicated: take darshan (mentally or at a shrine), perform praṇāma, and recite a Shiva stotra with bhakti—optionally accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to stabilize the joy-filled remembrance (smaraṇa) of Śaṅkara.