Shloka 27

Vaiśyanātha-avatāra-kathā

The Account of Śiva’s Manifestation as Vaiśyanātha

Devanagari script

अथ तस्यै स वैश्यस्तु प्रदत्त्वा रत्नकंकणम् । लिंगं रत्नमयं तस्य हस्ते दत्त्वेदमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

atha tasyai sa vaiśyastu pradattvā ratnakaṃkaṇam | liṃgaṃ ratnamayaṃ tasya haste dattvedamabravīt

Translation

Then that vaiśya, having presented her a jeweled bracelet, placed a gem-made Śiva-liṅga into her hand and spoke these words.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थक (then/now)

• tasyai: to her
• tasyai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vaiśyaḥ: the vaiśya
• vaiśyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/contrast)

• pradattvā: having given
• pradattvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• ratna-kaṃkaṇam: a jeweled bracelet
• ratna-kaṃkaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna + kaṃkaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (रत्नमयं कंकणम् / रत्नयुक्तं कंकणम्)

• liṃgam: the liṅga
• liṃgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ratna-mayam: made of jewels
• ratna-mayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratna + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तद्धितान्त (मयट्) ‘made of’; विशेषणम् (liṅgam)

• tasya: his
• tasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• haste: in (her) hand
• haste: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• dattvā: having given/placing
• dattvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अ-आगम

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (as the Liṅga)

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed through dāna (devotional gifting): placing a Śiva-liṅga into another’s hand symbolizes transmitting a living focus of worship, directing the mind toward Pati (Śiva) as the refuge and goal.

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

The gem-made liṅga is a saguna support (pratika) for devotion—an accessible form through which the devotee can offer reverence, mantra, and inner surrender to Śiva who ultimately transcends form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Liṅga-pūjā is implied: receive/establish the liṅga with reverence, then worship with clean offerings and japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as the core daily practice.