Shloka 3

पार्वतीवाक्यं—शिवस्य परब्रह्मत्व-निरूपणम्

Pārvatī’s Discourse: Establishing Śiva as Parabrahman

Devanagari script

कदाचिद्दृश्यते तादृक् वेषधारी महेश्वरः । स्वलीलया परब्रह्म स्वरागोपात्तविग्रहः

Transliteration

kadāciddṛśyate tādṛk veṣadhārī maheśvaraḥ | svalīlayā parabrahma svarāgopāttavigrahaḥ

Translation

At times, Mahādeva is indeed seen bearing such a guise. That Supreme Brahman, by His own divine līlā, assumes a manifest form according to His own free will and delight.

Word by Word

• कदाचित्: sometimes
• कदाचित्: Kala (काल/Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb; ‘sometimes’)

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• तादृक्: such
• तादृक्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तादृश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; ‘such (of that kind)’

• वेषधारी: one who wears a disguise
• वेषधारी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेष + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वेषं धारयति → wearing a guise)

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara (Great Lord Śiva)
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् ईश्वरः)

• स्वलीलया: by his own play
• स्वलीलया: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य लीला → his own play)

• परब्रह्म: the Supreme Brahman
• परब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/सम्बोधन (Nom/Voc), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (परं ब्रह्म)

• स्वरागोपात्तविग्रहः: he whose body/form is assumed by his own will
• स्वरागोपात्तविग्रहः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + राग + उपात्त + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (स्वेन रागेण उपात्तः विग्रहः यस्य → whose form is assumed by his own will/attachment); उपात्त = √दा (आ+दा) क्त (taken/assumed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva is Parabrahman beyond limitation, yet out of compassion and līlā He becomes perceivable by taking an appropriate form—so devotees can relate, worship, and progress toward liberation.

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

If the Supreme can freely assume a “vigraha,” then worship of Saguna Śiva—especially the Śiva-liṅga as His chosen, accessible manifestation—becomes a valid and grace-filled means to approach the Nirguna reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as both formless Parabrahman and graciously manifest Lord; support this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple liṅga-pūjā as a focus for devotion.