Shloka 54

Devanagari script

तेन पुण्यप्रभावेण स भिल्लो हि नलोऽभवत् । चक्रवर्ती महाराजो दमयन्ती प्रियोऽभवत्

Transliteration

tena puṇyaprabhāveṇa sa bhillo hi nalo'bhavat | cakravartī mahārājo damayantī priyo'bhavat

Translation

By the power of that accumulated merit, that Bhilla became Nala. For a time he lived as a Bhilla, and thereafter became a cakravartin, a great king; and Damayantī once more became his beloved.

Word by Word

• तेन: by that/thereby
• तेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुण्यप्रभावेण: by the power of merit
• पुण्यप्रभावेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य + प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पुण्यस्य प्रभावः)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भिल्लः: the Bhilla (tribesman)
• भिल्लः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिल्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये-अव्यय (particle: 'indeed/for')

• नलः: Nala
• नलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चक्रवर्ती: universal monarch
• चक्रवर्ती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्रवर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पदवीवाचक (title)

• महाराजः: great king
• महाराजः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् राजा)

• दमयन्ती: Damayantī
• दमयन्ती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दमयन्ती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रियः: beloved
• प्रियः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Merit (puṇya) from Śiva-related acts matures across births: from tribal life to kingship and restored marital fortune—anugraha working through karmic maturation.

Significance: Encourages śiva-bhakti with confidence that no sincere offering is wasted; merit refines birth, status, and dharmic stability, ultimately orienting toward liberation.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Nala
• Damayanti

FAQs

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

It highlights that the फल (result) of puṇya can reverse misfortune: even a fall into hardship is not final, and merit (ultimately supported by Shiva’s order and grace) restores one to dharma, dignity, and rightful harmony.

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

In the Kotirudra setting—where Jyotirlinga glory is emphasized—the verse reflects a core Purāṇic theme: Saguna Shiva worship (Linga, pilgrimage, vrata) generates purifying merit that protects devotees through karmic turbulence and re-establishes auspiciousness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate puṇya through Shiva-upāsanā: regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-abhisheka on Mondays/Mahāśivarātri, and disciplined dharma—so adverse phases pass and stability returns.