Shloka 37

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

Prelude to Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Fall

Devanagari script

ततस्तां रुदतीं दृष्ट्वा स विष्णुः परमेश्वरः । सस्मार शंकरं देवं येन संमोहितं जगत्

Transliteration

tatastāṃ rudatīṃ dṛṣṭvā sa viṣṇuḥ parameśvaraḥ | sasmāra śaṃkaraṃ devaṃ yena saṃmohitaṃ jagat

Translation

Then, seeing her weeping, Lord Viṣṇu—the supreme ruler—remembered (invoked) Deva Śaṅkara, by whose divine power the entire world is veiled in bewilderment and set upon its destined course.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक (then/thereafter)

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• rudatīm: weeping
• rudatīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rud (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ताम्’ इति विशेषण

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• parameśvaraḥ: the Supreme Lord
• parameśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘परमः ईश्वरः’

• sasmāra: he remembered
• sasmāra: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• śaṃkaram: Śaṅkara
• śaṃkaram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• devam: the god
• devam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘śaṃkaram’ इति विशेषण/अपपद

• yena: by whom
• yena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम

• saṃmohitam: deluded, bewildered
• saṃmohitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-muh (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘jagat’ इति विशेषण

• jagat: the world
• jagat: Karta (कर्ता) (of passive sense: ‘is deluded’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Shankara

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that even Viṣṇu turns inward to Śaṅkara—acknowledging Shiva as the lord of the power that veils and unveils reality—implying that liberation arises when moha (bewilderment) is transcended through Shiva-remembrance and grace.

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

“Remembering Śaṅkara” points to saguna-upāsanā—devotional contemplation of Shiva with attributes. In practice, devotees express this remembrance through Linga worship, mantra-japa, and offerings, seeking Shiva’s guidance to remove delusion and restore dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śiva-smaraṇa through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) is the direct takeaway; it can be supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and Shaiva identity in daily sādhanā.