Shloka 30

शिवस्यार्द्धनारीनरावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Ardhanārī-nara Manifestation

Devanagari script

एतत्ते कथितं तात शिवरूपं महोत्तमम् । अर्द्धनारीनरार्द्धं हि महामंगलदं सताम्

Transliteration

etatte kathitaṃ tāta śivarūpaṃ mahottamam | arddhanārīnarārddhaṃ hi mahāmaṃgaladaṃ satām

Translation

Dear child, I have thus described to you the supremely exalted form of Śiva—Ardhanārīśvara, half woman and half man—which bestows great auspiciousness upon the virtuous.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd; contextually object), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कथितम्: told/related
• कथितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय; past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (मया) कथितम् = has been told

• तात: O dear one/son
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• शिव-रूपम्: Śiva’s form
• शिव-रूपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य रूपम्)

• महा-उत्तमम्: supremely excellent
• महा-उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (very excellent) विशेषण (to शिव-रूपम्)

• अर्द्ध-नारी-नर-अर्द्धम्: half-woman half-man (form)
• अर्द्ध-नारी-नर-अर्द्धम्: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Apposition to शिव-रूपम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + नारी (प्रातिपदिक) + नर (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास (तत्पुरुष-प्रधान; ‘half woman and half man’)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: indeed)

• महा-मङ्गल-दम्: bestowing great auspiciousness
• महा-मङ्गल-दम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त; दा धातु, क्विप्/अच्-प्रत्ययार्थ ‘giver’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (giver of great auspiciousness) विशेषण (to शिव-रूपम्/अर्द्ध-नारी-नर-अर्द्धम्)

• सताम्: of the good (people)
• सताम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Beneficiary-possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages, summarizing the described form of Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it is a phala-oriented identification of Ardhanārīśvara as ‘mahāmaṅgalada’—bestower of auspiciousness—implying grace (anugraha) through contemplation of Śiva-Śakti unity.

Significance: Darśana/dhyāna of Ardhanārīśvara is traditionally sought for harmony in household life, fertility, and inner integration; the verse frames it as auspicious for sādhakas and the ‘sat’ (virtuous).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It praises Ardhanārīśvara as the supremely auspicious Saguna form of Śiva, revealing the inseparable unity of Pati (Śiva) and His Śakti, and teaching devotees to see divine wholeness beyond duality.

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

The verse supports Saguna worship by affirming a specific, grace-bestowing form of Śiva. In Śaiva practice, the Liṅga embodies the same Lord; meditating on Ardhanārīśvara refines devotion by honoring both Śiva and Śakti within Liṅga-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Ardhanārīśvara while chanting the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), offering bilva leaves to the Liṅga, and maintaining a sattvic vow—since the verse emphasizes auspiciousness for the virtuous.