Shloka 13

तुलसी-शङ्खचूडोपाख्यानम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and the Tulasī Episode

Prelude to Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Fall

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा सकटाक्षं सा निरीक्ष्य सस्मितं मुदा । पप्रच्छ रणवृत्तांतं कांतं मधुरया गिरा

Transliteration

ityuktvā sakaṭākṣaṃ sā nirīkṣya sasmitaṃ mudā | papraccha raṇavṛttāṃtaṃ kāṃtaṃ madhurayā girā

Translation

Having spoken thus, she glanced sidelong at her beloved; then, smiling with joy, she sweetly asked him about the course of the battle.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotative particle (इति-प्रयोगः)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Kṛdanta, Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √vac (वच्), ‘having said’

• sa-kaṭākṣam: with a side-glance
• sa-kaṭākṣam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṭākṣa (प्रातिपदिक) with sa- (सह)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; avyayībhāva: sa + kaṭākṣa = ‘with a side-glance’ (सकटाक्षम्)

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• nirīkṣya: having looked at
• nirīkṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-īkṣ (धातु) + ya (ल्यप्)
• Form: Kṛdanta, Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), from √īkṣ with prefix nir- (निरीक्ष्य)

• sa-smitam: smiling
• sa-smitam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smita (प्रातिपदिक) with sa- (सह)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; avyayībhāva: sa + smita = ‘with a smile’ (सस्मितम्)

• mudā: with joy
• mudā: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; used adverbially

• papraccha: asked
• papraccha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√prach (प्रच्छ्) (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ/लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• raṇa-vṛttāntam: the account of the battle
• raṇa-vṛttāntam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛttānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध): ‘account of battle’

• kāntam: (to) the beloved
• kāntam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• madhurayā: with sweet
• madhurayā: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; agrees with girā

• girā: speech/voice
• girā: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gir (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the account)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights bhāva (devotional disposition): affectionate regard, gentle speech, and attentive inquiry—qualities that, in Shaiva thought, purify the mind and make one fit to receive dharmic and spiritually elevating knowledge.

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

Though not directly mentioning the Liṅga, it reflects Saguna-bhakti—relating to the Lord (and His divine associates) through loving attention and reverent dialogue, which parallels approaching the Liṅga with humility, sweetness of speech, and focused remembrance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is vāṅ-niyama (purifying speech): speak gently and truthfully, and pair narration/hearing of Shiva’s deeds with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to steady the mind.