Shloka 39

Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ

The Account of Viśvānara Gṛhapati and Śiva’s Descent into the House of Fire

Devanagari script

शैशवोचितनेपथ्यधारिणञ्चितिधारिणम् । पठन्तं श्रुतिसूक्तानि हसन्तं च स्वलीलया

Transliteration

śaiśavocitanepathyadhāriṇañcitidhāriṇam | paṭhantaṃ śrutisūktāni hasantaṃ ca svalīlayā

Translation

They beheld Him wearing adornments suited to childhood, bearing the sacred topknot, reciting the hymns of the Vedas as taught in Śruti, and laughing playfully in His own divine līlā.

Word by Word

• śaiśava-ucita-nepathya-dhāriṇam: wearing attire suitable for childhood
• śaiśava-ucita-nepathya-dhāriṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaiśava (प्रातिपदिक) + ucita (प्रातिपदिक) + nepathya (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• citi-dhāriṇam: bearing the funeral-pyre/ashes (citi)
• citi-dhāriṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citi (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम्

• paṭhantam: reciting
• paṭhantam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paṭh (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• śruti-sūktāni: Vedic hymns
• śruti-sūktāni: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śruti (प्रातिपदिक) + sūkta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• hasantam: laughing
• hasantam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √has (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• sva-līlayā: by his own play
• sva-līlayā: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करणवाचक (instrumental)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who freely assumes a Saguna form out of compassion—revealing that even the Vedas arise in and are mastered by Him, while His playful laughter signifies divine freedom beyond bondage (pāśa).

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

The verse supports Saguna-upāsanā: devotees may approach Shiva through lovable, accessible forms and līlās, while understanding that the same Lord is also the transcendent reality indicated by the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Vedic recitation and mantra-japa are implied—devotees can chant the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with bhakti, contemplating Shiva as the source of Śruti and the compassionate Lord who reveals Himself through līlā.