Shloka 29

शिवस्यार्द्धनारीनरावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Ardhanārī-nara Manifestation

Devanagari script

तदाप्रभृति लोकेऽस्मिन्स्त्रिया भागः प्रकल्पितः । आनन्दं प्राप स विधिः सृष्टिर्जाता च मैथुनी

Transliteration

tadāprabhṛti loke'sminstriyā bhāgaḥ prakalpitaḥ | ānandaṃ prāpa sa vidhiḥ sṛṣṭirjātā ca maithunī

Translation

From that time onward in this world, the woman’s share (and rightful portion) was duly established. Then that Ordainer (Brahmā, the cosmic regulator) attained satisfaction, and the creation became sexual—arising through the union of male and female.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb of time: then)

• प्रभृति: from (that time)
• प्रभृति: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-from)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रभृति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भार्थक (from/since)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्त्रिया: by/through a woman; for a woman
• स्त्रिया: Karana (करण/Instrument or agentive means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• भागः: share/portion
• भागः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रकल्पितः: was assigned/ordained
• प्रकल्पितः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय; past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे ‘was assigned/arranged’

• आनन्दम्: joy
• आनन्दम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्राप: attained
• प्राप: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विधिः: Brahmā; the Ordainer
• विधिः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Apposition to सः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सृष्टिः: creation
• सृष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जाता: was born/arose
• जाता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय; past participle used predicatively), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (सृष्टिः) जाता = came into being

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• मैथुनी: sexual; arising from union
• मैथुनी: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मैथुनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (to सृष्टिः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga; it provides an etiological (origin) explanation for the ‘woman’s share’ and for maithunī-sṛṣṭi (sexed creation) as a cosmic ordinance following Śiva-Śakti integration.

Significance: General teaching used in dharma discourse: honoring the feminine principle (śakti) is framed as necessary for prosperity, lineage, and social order.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Institution of maithunī-sṛṣṭi (creation through male-female polarity) as a cosmic regulation following Śakti’s role in enabling Brahmā’s satisfaction (ānanda) and effective creation.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It affirms that creation proceeds according to a divinely established order (dharma), where the feminine principle is given an acknowledged share, enabling embodied life to continue through lawful generation—while reminding the seeker that worldly creation is structured and purposeful within Shiva’s overarching reality.

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

By describing creation as arising through polarity and union, it indirectly points to Saguna Shiva as the Lord who governs manifestation; Linga-worship centers the devotee in the transcendent source beyond sexual generation, even while honoring the ordered world that proceeds under Shiva’s power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to sanctify household life through Shaiva dharma—daily remembrance of Shiva with the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined conduct—so that worldly union supports spiritual progress rather than bondage.