Shloka 3

Daśa-Śivāvatāra-Nirūpaṇa

Enumeration of Ten Prime Manifestations of Śiva with Their Śaktis

Devanagari script

तारनामा द्वितीयश्च तारा शक्तिस्तथैव सा । भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदौ चोभौ स्वसेवकसुखप्रदौ

Transliteration

tāranāmā dvitīyaśca tārā śaktistathaiva sā | bhuktimuktipradau cobhau svasevakasukhapradau

Translation

The second is named Tāra, and likewise the power called Tārā. Both bestow worldly enjoyment and liberation, and grant happiness to their own devoted worshippers.

Word by Word

• tāra-nāmā: named Tāra
• tāra-nāmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāra (प्रातिपदिक) + nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi: 'tāra nāma yasya saḥ' (whose name is Tāra)

• dvitīyaḥ: the second
• dvitīyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvitīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ordinal adjective

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• tārā: Tārā
• tārā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaktiḥ: Śakti (power/consort)
• śaktiḥ: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (तुल्यतार्थक)

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (अवधारण)

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

• bhukti-mukti-pradau: bestowers of enjoyment and liberation (both)
• bhukti-mukti-pradau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhukti (प्रातिपदिक) + mukti (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); qualifying the pair (Tāra and her Śakti)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• ubhau: both
• ubhau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• sva-sevaka-sukha-pradau: givers of happiness to their own servants/devotees (both)
• sva-sevaka-sukha-pradau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + sevaka (प्रातिपदिक) + sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'svasevakānāṃ sukhaṃ pradātārau'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The second avatāra is Tāra with Śakti Tārā; the pair is characterized as bhukti-mukti-prada and as bestowing happiness to their sevakas—indicating a salvific, guiding function (‘tāra’ = ‘one who ferries across’).

Significance: Devotional approach to the Tāra form is presented as both welfare-bestowing and mokṣa-oriented, emphasizing compassionate guidance across saṃsāra.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Tārā

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Tara
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It presents a Shaiva teaching that Shiva’s manifestations together with their Śakti can grant both bhukti (well-being in the world) and mukti (release), with devotion (sevā/bhakti) as the qualifying means.

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

It supports Saguna-upāsanā: devotees approach Shiva with Śakti through name, form, and worship, receiving grace that culminates in liberation—an idea consistent with Linga worship as a concrete focus for devotion leading to moksha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Steady sevā (devotional worship) of Shiva together with reverence to Śakti—such as japa of Shiva’s names/mantras and regular pūjā—aimed not merely at gains but ultimately at liberation through divine grace.