Shloka 45

Vaiśyanātha-avatāra-kathā

The Account of Śiva’s Manifestation as Vaiśyanātha

Devanagari script

महानन्दोवाच । रत्नकंकणमादाय मया सत्यमुदाहृतम् । दिनत्रयमहं पत्नी वैश्यस्यामुष्य संमता

Transliteration

mahānandovāca | ratnakaṃkaṇamādāya mayā satyamudāhṛtam | dinatrayamahaṃ patnī vaiśyasyāmuṣya saṃmatā

Translation

Mahānanda said: “Taking the jeweled bracelet, I have spoken the truth. For three days I was accepted as the wife of that Vaiśya (merchant).”

Word by Word

• महानन्दः: Mahānanda
• महानन्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महानन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रत्न-कंकणम्: a jeweled bracelet
• रत्न-कंकणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + कंकण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘रत्नस्य कंकणम्’ (a jeweled bracelet)

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund/absolutive) ‘having taken’

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उदाहृतम्: was declared
• उदाहृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि—‘was uttered/declared’ (agreeing with सत्यम्)

• दिन-त्रयम्: for three days
• दिन-त्रयम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numerical compound)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पत्नी: wife
• पत्नी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वैश्यस्य: of a vaiśya (merchant)
• वैश्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अमुṣ्य: of that (man)
• अमुṣ्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• संमता: accepted / approved
• संमता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-मत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘approved/accepted’ (agreeing with पत्नी)

Speaker

Mahānanda

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse belongs to a moral-narrative unit where satya (truth) and śivavrata are tested through a domestic/social transgression involving a jewel-bracelet as evidence.

Significance: General Śiva-dharma teaching: satya and vrata-purity are presented as prerequisites for Śiva’s anugraha (grace) rather than a site-specific merit.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights satya (truthfulness) and accountability: admitting one’s actions is presented as a dharmic step that purifies intention and prepares the mind for Shiva-oriented transformation.

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

Though the verse is narrative, it supports Saguna Shiva worship indirectly by stressing ethical purity (śuddhi) as a foundation for effective devotion—approaching Shiva (as Pati) requires sincerity and truth in conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is satya-vrata (a vow of truth) alongside Shiva-japa—regular repetition of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with repentance and honest self-assessment.