Shloka 10

बाणस्य शोकः शिवस्मरणं च — Bāṇa’s Grief and the Turn to Śiva-Remembrance

Devanagari script

ननर्त तांडवं मुख्यं प्रत्यालीढादिशोभितम् । स्थानकैर्विविधाकारैरालीढप्रमुखैरपि

Transliteration

nanarta tāṃḍavaṃ mukhyaṃ pratyālīḍhādiśobhitam | sthānakairvividhākārairālīḍhapramukhairapi

Translation

He danced the supreme Tāṇḍava, made resplendent by the pratyālīḍha and other heroic postures, and by many kinds of stances—ālīḍha and the rest—manifest in diverse forms.

Word by Word

• nanarta: (he) danced
• nanarta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नृत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• tāṇḍavam: the tāṇḍava dance
• tāṇḍavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• mukhyam: principal, foremost
• mukhyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (qualifier) of ताण्डवम्

• pratyālīḍha-ādi-śobhitam: adorned with pratyālīḍha etc. (postures)
• pratyālīḍha-ādi-śobhitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रत्यालीढ + आदि + शोभित (कृदन्त; √शुभ्/शोभ्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); भूतकृदन्त (past participle) ‘शोभित’ = adorned; समासः: (प्रत्यालीढादि) + शोभितम्

• sthānakaiḥ: with stances/poses
• sthānakaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• vividha-ākāraiḥ: with various forms
• vividha-ākāraiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine) आकार-शब्दः, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); समासः: विविधाः आकाराः = विविधाकाराः

• ālīḍha-pramukhaiḥ: with those beginning with ālīḍha (postures)
• ālīḍha-pramukhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आलीढ + प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); समासः: आलीढः प्रमुखः येषां ते (आलीढप्रमुखाः)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); समुच्चय/अपि = also, even

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; the tāṇḍava motif evokes Śiva’s cosmic dance archetype, though here performed by the devotee in imitation/propitiation.

Significance: Contemplation of Naṭarāja-tattva: recognizing Śiva as the cosmic agent whose dance governs dissolution and renewal; inspires surrender and inner stillness.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

Shiva’s supreme Tāṇḍava signifies the Lord’s sovereign power to dissolve impurity and bondage (pāśa) and to re-establish dharma; contemplating this divine action turns the mind toward Pati (the Lord) as the liberator in Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Shiva—Rudra as a manifest, worshipful reality whose cosmic activity can be adored. Linga-worship similarly focuses devotion on Shiva’s accessible form, through which grace descends and the soul is led toward realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on Nataraja (Shiva as the cosmic dancer) while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and devotion.