Shloka 13

Yatinātha-līlā: Śiva’s Test of the Bhilla Devotees at Arbuda Mountain

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भिल्ल्या धर्मान्वितं शिवम् । स्वपत्न्या मनसा तेन भिल्लेन च विचारितम्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | tasyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā bhillyā dharmānvitaṃ śivam | svapatnyā manasā tena bhillena ca vicāritam

Translation

Nandīśvara said: Having heard her words, that Bhilla (hunter), together with his wife, reflected in his mind upon Śiva—the Lord who is united with Dharma.

Word by Word

• nandīśvaraḥ: Nandīśvara
• nandīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative used with vacanam

• vacanam: speech/statement
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having heard’

• bhillyā: by Bhillī
• bhillyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhillī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• dharma-anvitam: endowed with dharma
• dharma-anvitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘धर्मेण अन्वितम्’

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sva-patnyā: with (his) own wife
• sva-patnyā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘स्वा पत्नी’

• manasā: with the mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• tena: by him
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• bhillena: with the Bhilla (man)
• bhillena: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhilla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• vicāritam: was deliberated/considered
• vicāritam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√car (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; impersonal/passive sense: ‘was deliberated’

Speaker

Nandīśvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; ‘dharmānvitaṃ śivam’ frames Śiva as the very norm of dharma who responds with grace when householders uphold atithi-dharma.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Nandīśvara
• Shiva
• Bhilla (hunter)
• Bhilla's wife

FAQs

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

The verse highlights inward turning (manasā vicāra) as the beginning of devotion: when the mind reflects on Śiva as the ground of Dharma, the seeker becomes oriented toward right living and liberation.

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

Though the verse speaks of mental reflection, it supports Saguna Śiva-upāsanā: contemplating Śiva’s dharmic nature prepares the devotee to approach His Linga-form with faith, purity, and disciplined conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa and smaraṇa: repeat “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while contemplating Śiva as the protector of Dharma, letting the mind settle into steady remembrance before any outer pūjā.