Shloka 2

Devanagari script

एकदा मुनिशार्दूल गिरिजाशंकरावुभौ । विहर्तुकामौ संजातौ स्वेच्छया परमेश्वरौ

Transliteration

ekadā muniśārdūla girijāśaṃkarāvubhau | vihartukāmau saṃjātau svecchayā parameśvarau

Translation

Once, O tiger among sages, Girijā (Pārvatī) and Śaṅkara—those two Supreme Lords—of their own free will became desirous of sportive divine play (līlā).

Word by Word

• एकदा: once
• एकदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• मुनि-शार्दूल: O tiger among sages
• मुनि-शार्दूल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थ (मुनिषु शार्दूलः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन (Voc Sg)

• गिरिजा-शंकरौ: Girijā and Śaṅkara
• गिरिजा-शंकरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिजा (प्रातिपदिक) + शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतरद्वन्द्वसमास (गिरिजा च शंकरः च); पुंलिङ्ग (समाहार/युगलवाचक), प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nom Du)

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nom Du); विशेषण (गिरिजाशंकरौ)

• विहर्तु-कामौ: desirous of sporting
• विहर्तु-कामौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-हृ (धातु) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (विहर्तुं कामौ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nom Du); ‘to play’ इत्यर्थे तुमुनन्त (infinitive) + काम

• संजातौ: became/arose
• संजातौ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-जात (धातु √जन्, कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकालिक कृदन्त (past participle) ‘संजात’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (Nom Du); विधेयविशेषण (predicate)

• स्वेच्छया: by their own will
• स्वेच्छया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (स्वस्य इच्छा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instr Sg)

• परमेश्वरौ: the Supreme Lords
• परमेश्वरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (परमः ईश्वरः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nom Du)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva and Pārvatī as Parameśvara acting through svacchanda (free divine will), reminding devotees that cosmic events and sacred stories unfold as līlā—graceful, purposeful play that draws souls (paśu) toward liberation under the Lord (Pati).

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

By highlighting the Lord’s willingness to “play” in manifest form, it supports Saguna upāsanā—devotion to Śiva with attributes—often centered on the Śiva-liṅga, through which devotees approach the transcendent (Nirguṇa) via the compassionate, accessible form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Śiva’s svecchā-śakti (free will) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering bilva leaves to the liṅga; this aligns the mind to accept life’s movements as Śiva’s līlā and deepens bhakti.