Shloka 54

Vaiśyanātha-avatāra-kathā

The Account of Śiva’s Manifestation as Vaiśyanātha

Devanagari script

शिव उवाच । सत्यं धर्मं च धैर्यं च भक्तिं च मयि निश्चलाम् । परीक्षितुं त्वत्सकाशं वैश्यो भूत्वाहमागतः

Transliteration

śiva uvāca | satyaṃ dharmaṃ ca dhairyaṃ ca bhaktiṃ ca mayi niścalām | parīkṣituṃ tvatsakāśaṃ vaiśyo bhūtvāhamāgataḥ

Translation

Śiva said: “To test your truthfulness, righteousness, steadfastness, and your unwavering devotion to Me, I have come to you after assuming the form of a vaiśya.”

Word by Word

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)

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

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.)

• धर्मम्: dharma/righteousness
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masc. acc. sg.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• धैर्यम्: steadfastness/courage
• धैर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धैर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भक्तिम्: devotion
• भक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (fem. acc. sg.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मयि: in me
• मयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-रूप (1st pers. loc. sg.)

• निश्चलाम्: unwavering
• निश्चलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. acc. sg.), भक्तिम् इति विशेष्य

• परीक्षितुम्: to test
• परीक्षितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-ईक्ष् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थ (in order to test)

• त्वत्सकाशम्: to your presence/near you
• त्वत्सकाशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (त्वत्-सम्बन्धः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्मवत् (to your presence)

• वैश्यः: a Vaiśya
• वैश्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भू (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive); क्रियाविशेषण (having become)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-रूप (1st pers. nom. sg.)

• आगतः: have come
• आगतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) प्रयोगः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि-प्रयोगे ‘आगतः’ = has come

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that steadfast devotion (niścalā bhakti) must be grounded in satya, dharma, and dhairya; Shiva may test these virtues to mature the devotee’s surrender and fitness for grace (anugraha).

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

Shiva’s taking a discernible form (saguṇa līlā) underscores that the Lord who is worshipped as the Linga also engages devotees through approachable manifestations, using tests to deepen faith and dharmic conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to maintain steady Shiva-bhakti during trials—daily japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a truthful, dharmic life; if practiced, Rudraksha japa and Tripundra (bhasma) can support steadiness.