Shloka 31

Devanagari script

ततो निशीथसमये मुने वैश्यपतीच्छया । अकस्मादुत्थिता वाणी नृत्यमण्डपिकान्तरे

Transliteration

tato niśīthasamaye mune vaiśyapatīcchayā | akasmādutthitā vāṇī nṛtyamaṇḍapikāntare

Translation

Then, at the hour of deepest night, O sage, by the wish of the Vaiśya’s wife, a voice suddenly arose within the inner space of the dance-pavilion.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: ‘then/from that’)

• निशीथसमये: at the midnight time
• निशीथसमये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशीथ + समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: निशीथस्य समयः), पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• वैश्यपतीच्छया: by the vaiśya-husband’s desire
• वैश्यपतीच्छया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य + पति + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वैश्यपतेः इच्छा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• अकस्मात्: suddenly
• अकस्मात्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अकस्मात् (अव्यय)
• Form: आकस्मिकत्ववाचक-अव्यय (adverb: suddenly)

• उत्थिता: arisen
• उत्थिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + √स्था (धातु) → उत्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वाणी: a voice
• वाणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नृत्यमण्डपिकान्तरे: inside the dancing pavilion
• नृत्यमण्डपिकान्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृत्य + मण्डपिका + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/षष्ठीभाव: नृत्यमण्डपिकायाः अन्तरम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how divine revelation can manifest suddenly as sacred sound (vāṇī), especially at niśītha (midnight), a liminal time associated with Shiva’s grace and inner awakening in Shaiva thought.

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

Though the Linga is not named here, the sudden arising of vāṇī reflects Saguna Shiva’s compassionate intervention in narrative form—guiding devotees through audible instruction or omen, often linked with temple spaces such as a maṇḍapa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Midnight remembrance of Shiva—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with focused listening (śravaṇa) and inward attention—aligns with the verse’s emphasis on revelatory sound arising unexpectedly through devotion.