Shloka 24

दुर्वाससः तपः-प्रभावः तथा देवाः ब्रह्म-विष्ण्वोः शरणागमनम् | Durvāsā’s Tapas and the Devas’ Appeal to Brahmā and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

अथ ब्रह्मा हरिश्शम्भुरवतेरुः स्त्रियां ततः । पुत्ररूपैः प्रसन्नात्मनानालीला प्रकाशकाः

Transliteration

atha brahmā hariśśambhuravateruḥ striyāṃ tataḥ | putrarūpaiḥ prasannātmanānālīlā prakāśakāḥ

Translation

Then Brahmā, Hari (Viṣṇu), and Śambhu (Śiva) descended into that woman; and, taking the forms of sons, those serene-souled Lords revealed their many divine līlās, sacred play-acts.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तरार्थक-निपात (then/now)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अवतेरुः: descended
• अवतेरुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + तॄ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपदम्; अवतॄ = descend

• स्त्रियाम्: in/into a woman (female form)
• स्त्रियाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• ततः: thereupon
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/अनन्तरम् अर्थे (thereupon/then)

• पुत्ररूपैः: by (assuming) forms of sons
• पुत्ररूपैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: पुत्रस्य रूपम्

• प्रसन्नात्मना: with a pleased mind
• प्रसन्नात्मना: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/हेतुभाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः: प्रसन्नः आत्मा यस्य/प्रसन्न आत्मा (as a descriptor)

• नाना: various
• नाना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/विशेषणप्राय)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रकृति; विशेषणरूपेण

• लीलाः: sports / plays
• लीलाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रकाशकाः: revealers / manifesters
• प्रकाशकाः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण/प्रेडिकेट)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र + काश् (धातु) → प्रकाशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (agent noun, ण्वुल्/अक प्रत्यय-प्राय), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: avatāra/āveśa (divine descent into a womb to manifest līlā)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that the supreme powers (especially Śiva as Pati) compassionately manifest in accessible, personal forms to reveal līlā and guide beings toward dharma and liberation.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna manifestation—Śiva becomes knowable through form and action; likewise, the Liṅga is a sacred form through which devotees worship the transcendent (Nirguna) Śiva made approachable.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Śiva’s compassionate descents while repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and support japa with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of Śiva’s gracious presence.