Shloka 43

Devanagari script

ततस्स भिक्षुकस्तात नानालीलाविशारदः । दर्शयामास शैलाय स्वप्रभावमनन्तकम्

Transliteration

tatassa bhikṣukastāta nānālīlāviśāradaḥ | darśayāmāsa śailāya svaprabhāvamanantakam

Translation

Then that mendicant, O dear one—skilled in many divine play-acts (līlās)—revealed to the Mountain (Himālaya) his own boundless, innate majesty.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of sequence (क्रमवाचक)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhikṣukaḥ: the mendicant
• bhikṣukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhikṣuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tāta: O dear (sir)
• tāta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); address

• nānā-līlā-viśāradaḥ: skilled in many arts
• nānā-līlā-viśāradaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + līlā (प्रातिपदिक) + viśārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘nānāsu līlāsu viśāradaḥ’ (skilled in various plays/arts); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies bhikṣukaḥ

• darśayāmāsa: showed
• darśayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) [causative √dṛś → darśaya]
• Form: Causative (णिच्) base; Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• śailāya: to the mountain (king)
• śailāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• sva-prabhāvam: his own power
• sva-prabhāvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘svasyāḥ prabhāvaḥ’ (his own power); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• anantakam: endless
• anantakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anantaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies sva-prabhāvam

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Himalaya
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva may appear in humble, ascetic form, yet His true nature is infinite; spiritual maturity is to recognize the Pati (Lord) beyond external guise and to surrender to His boundless grace.

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

Like the Linga—an accessible Saguna support pointing to the limitless Nirguna—Shiva’s bhikshuka form is a visible doorway through which devotees apprehend His immeasurable, transcendent majesty.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva’s svaprabhava (innate, infinite light/power) while repeating the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” training the mind to see divinity beyond appearances; optionally support practice with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva reminders.