Shloka 48

मेना-शिवदर्शन-प्रस्थानम् | Menā’s Quest to Behold Śiva

Departure for Śiva’s Darśana

Devanagari script

नारद उवाच । अयं स शंकरस्साक्षाद्दृश्यतां सुन्दरि त्वया । यदर्थे शिवया तप्तं तपोऽति विपिने महत्

Transliteration

nārada uvāca | ayaṃ sa śaṃkarassākṣāddṛśyatāṃ sundari tvayā | yadarthe śivayā taptaṃ tapo'ti vipine mahat

Translation

Nārada said: “O fair one, behold—this is Śaṅkara Himself, directly before you. For His sake, Śivā performed great austerity in the deep forest.”

Word by Word

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg); ‘said’

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); सर्वनाम

• सः: that (very)
• सः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर्देशार्थक (that/indeed he)

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (directly, in person)

• दृश्यताम्: let (him) be seen
• दृश्यताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg); कर्मणि-प्रयोगः/आज्ञार्थः: ‘let (him) be seen’

• सुन्दरि: O beautiful one
• सुन्दरि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (Feminine, Vocative, Singular)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्री/पुं (सर्वनाम), तृतीया, एकवचन (Instrumental Singular); ‘by you’

• यत्-अर्थे: for which purpose
• यत्-अर्थे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Locative Singular); तत्पुरुषः—यस्मिन् अर्थे (for which purpose)

• शिवया: by Śivā (Pārvatī)
• शिवया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Instrumental Singular)

• तप्तम्: performed
• तप्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘performed/undergone’ (of tapas)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter Nom/Acc Singular)

• अति: exceedingly
• अति: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘अत्यर्थे/अधिके’ (very/exceedingly)

• विपिने: in the forest
• विपिने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Locative Singular)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (great)

Speaker

Nārada

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Narada

FAQs

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

It highlights that sincere tapas and single-pointed devotion culminate in Śiva’s direct darśana—grace manifesting in a perceivable (saguṇa) way for the devotee.

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

The verse emphasizes saguṇa encounter—Śiva becoming directly ‘seen.’ In practice, the same truth is approached through Liṅga-upāsanā, where the devotee seeks Śiva’s presence and blessing through a tangible sacred form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies disciplined tapas with bhakti: steady japa of Śiva-mantra (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), meditation on Śiva, and vrata-like restraint—performed with purity and perseverance.