Shloka 42

संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇana) — “Account of Sandhyā’s Story”

Devanagari script

इदं स्वरूपं भवतो दृष्ट्वा पूर्वं यथात्र वाम् । नाप्नुयात्साऽथ किंचिद्वै ततो रूपांतरं कुरु

Transliteration

idaṃ svarūpaṃ bhavato dṛṣṭvā pūrvaṃ yathātra vām | nāpnuyātsā'tha kiṃcidvai tato rūpāṃtaraṃ kuru

Translation

Since she has already seen this very form of yours here before, she would gain nothing new from it now; therefore, assume another form.

Word by Word

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies 'svarūpam'

• sva-rūpam: true/own form
• sva-rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; तत्पुरुष ('own form/nature')

• bhavataḥ: of you (hon.)
• bhavataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive), Ekavacana; honorific 2nd person reference

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable verbal

• pūrvam: previously/first
• pūrvam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of time (कालवाचक)

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; correlating)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative/relative adverb ('as/how')

• atra: here
• atra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• vām: of you two
• vām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuvām (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dual pronoun, Ṣaṣṭhī/Genitive (षष्ठी), Dvivacana (द्विवचन); 'of you two'

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle (निषेध)

• āpnuyāt: would obtain/attain
• āpnuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्; optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana

• atha: then/now
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; connective)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; discourse particle/conjunction (अनन्तर/प्रसङ्ग)

• kiṃcit: anything (at all)
• kiṃcit: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiṃcid (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (Accusative) used adverbially; Ekavacana

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक/खलु-अर्थ)

• tataḥ: therefore/then
• tataḥ: Hetu/Apādāna-nibandhana (हेतु; causal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb ('therefore/from that')

• rūpa-antaram: another form
• rūpa-antaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• kuru: do/make
• kuru: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्; imperative), Parasmaipada, Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana

Speaker

Lord Śiva (inferred within the Satī Khaṇḍa dialogue context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s freedom to manifest forms for the devotee’s upliftment: the same external form is not the goal—inner recognition of Śiva (Pati) beyond appearances leads the soul (paśu) toward liberation.

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

It supports Saguna worship as compassionate accommodation—Śiva may reveal varied forms for devotion—while the Liṅga points to the timeless reality beyond any single form, guiding the devotee from form to essence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on Śiva’s chosen form (iṣṭa-rūpa) while remembering His formless truth—paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to stabilize devotion beyond changing visions.