Shloka 37

नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा

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

Devanagari script

सुतो विदर्भराजस्य शिवभक्तस्य धीमतः । अयं सत्यरथस्यैव स्वधर्मनिरतस्य हि

Transliteration

suto vidarbharājasya śivabhaktasya dhīmataḥ | ayaṃ satyarathasyaiva svadharmaniratasya hi

Translation

He is the son of Satyaratha, the king of Vidarbha—wise, devoted to Lord Śiva, and firmly engaged in his own righteous duty.

Word by Word

• सुतः: son
• सुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विदर्भराजस्य: of the king of Vidarbha
• विदर्भराजस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदर्भ + राज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); विदर्भ-राज (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-समासार्थ: 'king of Vidarbha')

• शिवभक्तस्य: of the devotee of Śiva
• शिवभक्तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); शिव-भक्त (तत्पुरुष: 'devotee of Śiva')

• धीमतः: of the wise
• धीमतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective: 'having intellect')

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सत्यरथस्य: of Satyaratha
• सत्यरथस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); सत्य + रथ (कर्मधारय: proper name)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-बोधक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• स्वधर्मनिरतस्य: of one devoted to his own duty
• स्वधर्मनिरतस्य: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + धर्म + निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); स्व-धर्म (तत्पुरुष) + निरत (तत्पुरुष: 'engaged in')

• हि: for / indeed
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (for/indeed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models the ideal ‘śiva-bhakta’ householder-king whose svadharma becomes a support for devotion and merit.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Satyaratha
• Vidarbha

FAQs

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

It presents the Shaiva ideal that true spiritual progress comes from Śiva-bhakti joined with steadiness in svadharma—devotion that sanctifies worldly responsibility rather than rejecting it.

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

By praising a king as a ‘Śiva-bhakta,’ the verse implies Saguna worship—devotion to Śiva as the personal Lord—often expressed in Purāṇic practice through Liṅga-pūjā performed while living a dharmic life.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is daily Śiva-upāsanā alongside one’s duties—such as Liṅga-abhiṣeka, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) wearing, and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’ with a disciplined, dharmic conduct.