Shloka 21

Devanagari script

विष्णुश्चापि तदा तत्र प्रणिपत्य सदाशिवम् । उपदिश्य च मां तात ह्यंतर्धानमुपागतः

Transliteration

viṣṇuścāpi tadā tatra praṇipatya sadāśivam | upadiśya ca māṃ tāta hyaṃtardhānamupāgataḥ

Translation

Then Viṣṇu also, there and then, bowed down to Sadāśiva; and after instructing me, dear one, he disappeared from sight.

Word by Word

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb of time

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb of place (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• praṇipatya: having prostrated
• praṇipatya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (नम् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त), from pra + √nam; ‘having bowed down’

• sadāśivam: Sadāśiva
• sadāśivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadāśiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• upadiśya: having instructed
• upadiśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√diś (दिश् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त), from upa + √diś; ‘having instructed’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tāta: dear one/son (as address)
• tāta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; address

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात); emphasis/causal nuance

• antardhānam: disappearance, invisibility
• antardhānam: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antardhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used adverbially with ‘upāgataḥ’ meaning ‘into disappearance’

• upāgataḥ: went/entered, attained
• upāgataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त/कृत), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; from upa + √gam; predicate of ‘viṣṇuḥ’

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Tirodhāna: Viṣṇu’s disappearance after completing his role as instructor; concealment as orderly withdrawal of divine functionaries

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Sadashiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the primacy of surrender (praṇipāta) before Sadāśiva and shows that divine guidance is received through humility; even Viṣṇu models reverence to Shiva, affirming Shiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) in Shaiva Siddhanta framing.

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

Sadāśiva here is the accessible, worship-worthy Saguna manifestation through whom instruction is given; Linga-worship embodies this same principle—approaching the Lord with devotion and receiving grace and right knowledge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is praṇāma/prostration with bhakti before Shiva, followed by attentive reception of upadeśa; in daily worship this aligns with offering obeisance to the Linga, reciting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and cultivating inner humility.