Shloka 42

Devanagari script

वैश्वानर समभ्येहि ममोत्संगे निषीद भोः । लक्षणानि परीक्षेऽहं पाणिन्दर्शय दक्षिणम्

Transliteration

vaiśvānara samabhyehi mamotsaṃge niṣīda bhoḥ | lakṣaṇāni parīkṣe'haṃ pāṇindarśaya dakṣiṇam

Translation

“O Vaiśvānara, come here and sit upon my lap. I shall examine your auspicious marks—show me your right hand.”

Word by Word

• vaiśvānara: O Vaiśvānara
• vaiśvānara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśvānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• samabhyehi: come near
• samabhyehi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-abhi-√i (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada; 'come near'

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

• utsaṅge: on the lap
• utsaṅge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utsaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• niṣīda: sit
• niṣīda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√sad (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person, Singular, Parasmaipada; 'sit down'

• bhoḥ: O!
• bhoḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhoḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Vocative particle (सम्बोधन-निपात)

• lakṣaṇāni: marks/signs
• lakṣaṇāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• parīkṣe: I examine
• parīkṣe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular, Ātmanepada; 'I examine'

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun

• pāṇim: hand
• pāṇim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• darśaya: show
• darśaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) (causative/णिच्: darśaya-)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person, Singular, Parasmaipada; causative: 'show'

• dakṣiṇam: right (hand)
• dakṣiṇam: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; adjective qualifying pāṇim

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; Śiva appears as the direct examiner/teacher, initiating discernment of lakṣaṇas as part of guiding destiny and dharma.

Significance: General: darśana of Śiva as guru bestows viveka and right direction; being ‘placed on the lap’ signifies intimate protection and transmission.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vaishvanara

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva as the inner knower who “tests” and reveals dharmic and auspicious qualities (lakṣaṇas) in a devotee or being—showing that grace and recognition flow from the Lord, not merely from outer status.

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

This scene reflects Saguna Shiva’s intimate, personal leela—Shiva engages directly with a being, examines signs, and guides them. Such narratives complement Linga worship by showing the same Lord as both the formless principle adored in the Linga and the compassionate personal deity who interacts with devotees.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests self-examination and cultivation of auspicious qualities while approaching Shiva with humility; in practice, devotees pair this with Shaiva disciplines like japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and reverent darśana/offerings, seeking Shiva’s grace to purify one’s “signs” (character and conduct).