Shloka 53

Vaiśyanātha-avatāra-kathā

The Account of Śiva’s Manifestation as Vaiśyanātha

Devanagari script

तां विह्वलां सुवित्रस्वां वेपमानां जडीकृताम् । समाश्वास्य गलद्बाष्पां करौ धृत्वाऽब्रवीद्वचः

Transliteration

tāṃ vihvalāṃ suvitrasvāṃ vepamānāṃ jaḍīkṛtām | samāśvāsya galadbāṣpāṃ karau dhṛtvā'bravīdvacaḥ

Translation

Seeing her overwhelmed—terrified, trembling, and as if stunned—he gently consoled her. As tears streamed down, he held her hands and spoke these words.

Word by Word

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-रूप (fem. acc. sg.)

• विह्वलाम्: bewildered
• विह्वलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. acc. sg.)

• सुवित्रस्वाम्: greatly frightened
• सुवित्रस्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + वित्रस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; 'सु' उपसर्गार्थक-पूर्वपद (very)

• वेपमानाम्: trembling
• वेपमानाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेप् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (trembling)

• जडीकृताम्: stupefied
• जडीकृताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जड (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; 'जडीकृत' = made inert/stupefied

• समाश्वास्य: having consoled
• समाश्वास्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-श्वस् (धातु) + ल्यप् (अव्ययीभाव-भावे)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); क्रियाविशेषण (having consoled)

• गलद्बाष्पाम्: with tears flowing
• गलद्बाष्पाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गलत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + बाष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. acc. sg.)

• करौ: (her) two hands
• करौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (masc. acc. du.)

• धृत्वा: having held
• धृत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धृ (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); क्रियाविशेषण (having held)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वचः: words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.)

Speaker

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

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights an essential Shaiva insight: when the bound soul (paśu) is shaken by fear and confusion, divine grace and compassionate guidance restore steadiness, making the heart fit for devotion and right knowledge.

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

It reflects Saguna Shiva’s accessible mercy—God is not only the transcendent Pati but also the near, consoling Lord who steadies the devotee’s mind; such inner reassurance is a prerequisite for focused Linga-worship and prayer.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is calming japa—especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—performed slowly with breath awareness to pacify trembling emotions before beginning puja or meditation.