Shloka 15

नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा

The Account of Śambhu’s Incarnation that Dispels Doubts Concerning Women

Devanagari script

प्रेरिता मनसा काचिदीशेन त्रासहारिणा । अकस्मादागता तत्र भ्रमन्ती भैक्ष्यजीविनी

Transliteration

preritā manasā kācidīśena trāsahāriṇā | akasmādāgatā tatra bhramantī bhaikṣyajīvinī

Translation

Impelling her in mind, the Lord—who removes fear—caused a certain woman, living by alms and wandering about, to arrive there suddenly.

Word by Word

• preritā: impelled, prompted
• preritā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√īr (धातु) + प्रेरित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the woman)

• manasā: by (her) mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• kācid: a certain (woman)
• kācid: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अनिश्चित (indefinite)

• īśena: by the Lord
• īśena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• trāsa-hāriṇā: (by him) who removes fear
• trāsa-hāriṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + hārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: त्रासस्य हारी); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ईशेन इति विशेषण

• akasmāt: suddenly
• akasmāt: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: akasmāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• āgatā: having come
• āgatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√gam (धातु) + आगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past active sense here); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; काचित् इति विशेषण

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• bhramantī: wandering
• bhramantī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √bhram (धातु) + भ्रमन्ती (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय; present participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; काचित् इति विशेषण

• bhaikṣya-jīvinī: a beggar-woman (living on alms)
• bhaikṣya-jīvinī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaikṣya (प्रातिपदिक) + jīvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद-तत्पुरुष: भैक्ष्येन जीवति); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; illustrates īśvara-saṅkalpa: Śiva removes fear by directing circumstances and people to protect the vulnerable.

Significance: Encourages trust in Śiva’s unseen governance (antaryāmitva) and inspires service to the distressed as an instrument of divine grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Īśvara’s compassionate governance: Shiva removes fear and, through subtle inner prompting, arranges circumstances that move a soul toward the destined spiritual unfolding.

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

The verse portrays Saguna Shiva as an active, personal Lord who intervenes in lived reality—guiding devotees and situations—supporting the Purana’s view that Linga-worship is communion with a responsive, protective Īśvara.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A takeaway is fear-removal through Shiva-bhakti: steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with remembrance of Shiva as trāsahāri (remover of fear).