Shloka 1

शिवस्यार्द्धनारीनरावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Ardhanārī-nara Manifestation

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । शृणु तात महाप्राज्ञ विधिकामप्रपूरकम् । अर्द्धनारीनराख्यं हि शिवरूपमनुत्तमम्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | śṛṇu tāta mahāprājña vidhikāmaprapūrakam | arddhanārīnarākhyaṃ hi śivarūpamanuttamam

Translation

Nandīśvara said: “Listen, dear one of great wisdom, to that supreme form of Śiva—known as Ardhanārī-nara—which perfectly fulfills both spiritual injunction (dharma) and sacred desire (kāma).”

Word by Word

• nandīśvaraḥ: Nandīśvara
• nandīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandī-īśvara (नन्दीश्वर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (nandinaḥ īśvaraḥ / Nandī as lord-name)

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

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tāta: dear child
• tāta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (तात प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• mahā-prājña: O greatly wise one
• mahā-prājña: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (महा) + prājña (प्राज्ञ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् प्राज्ञः)

• vidhi-kāma-prapūrakam: fulfilling dharma and desire
• vidhi-kāma-prapūrakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidhi (विधि) + kāma (काम) + prapūraka (प्रपूरक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (vidhiṃ ca kāmaṃ ca prapūrayati iti) — object of implied ‘śṛṇu’ (hear about ...)

• arddha-nārī-nara-ākhyam: called ‘half-woman half-man’
• arddha-nārī-nara-ākhyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arddha (अर्द्ध) + nārī (नारी) + nara (नर) + ākhya (आख्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (arddhā nārī, arddho naraḥ; ākhya = named/called)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• śiva-rūpam: the form of Śiva
• śiva-rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (शिव) + rūpa (रूप)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (śivasya rūpam)

• anuttamam: unsurpassed
• anuttamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-uttama (अनुत्तम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक विशेषण, śivarūpam विशेषयति

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga legend; it introduces the Ardhanārīśvara doctrine as the harmonizing source enabling ordered creation (mithuna principle) and dharmic fulfillment.

Significance: General significance: contemplation of Ardhanārīśvara is held to harmonize dharma and kāma, integrate polarities, and orient desire toward auspiciousness.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmogonic prelude: need for generative polarity (male–female) as a principle for manifest creation.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It introduces Ardhanārīśvara as an unsurpassed Saguna form of Śiva, teaching that true wholeness integrates dharma (right order) and purified desire, leading the devotee toward inner balance and liberation.

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

While the Liṅga points to Śiva’s transcendent (nirguṇa) reality, this verse highlights a manifest (saguṇa) form—Ardhanārī-nara—so devotees can meditate on Śiva’s compassionate, accessible embodiment of cosmic unity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is dhyāna (meditation) on Ardhanārīśvara while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating inner harmony and devotion.