Shloka 51

नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा

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

Devanagari script

तमाकर्ण्य रवं सोऽथ राजा त्यक्तशिवार्चनः । रिप्वागमनशंकातो निर्ययौ भवनाद्बहिः

Transliteration

tamākarṇya ravaṃ so'tha rājā tyaktaśivārcanaḥ | ripvāgamanaśaṃkāto niryayau bhavanādbahiḥ

Translation

Hearing that clamorous sound, the king at once abandoned his worship of Śiva; fearing an enemy’s arrival, he hurried out from the palace to the outside.

Word by Word

• तम्: that (sound/it)
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + कर्ण्/कृ (धातु: कर्णयति/श्रु-अर्थे)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; ‘having heard’

• रवम्: noise, roar
• रवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/अनुक्रम (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/conjunction)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्यक्तशिवार्चनः: having abandoned Śiva-worship
• त्यक्तशिवार्चनः: कर्तृविशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यक्त (त्यज् धातु-कृदन्त) + शिव + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: त्यक्तं शिवार्चनं येन (one who has abandoned Śiva-worship)

• रिपु-आगमन-शङ्कातः: from fear of the enemy’s arrival
• रिपु-आगमन-शङ्कातः: हेतु (Hetu/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु (प्रातिपदिक) + आगमन (प्रातिपदिक) + शङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (रिपोः आगमनस्य शङ्का) + तः (ablative)

• निर्ययौ: went out
• निर्ययौ: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भवनात्: from the palace/house
• भवनात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: देशाधिकरण (Locative sense/Adverb of place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• King

FAQs

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

It highlights how fear and worldly anxiety can interrupt devotion; Shaiva teaching emphasizes steadiness (niṣṭhā) in Śiva-bhakti, trusting Pati (Śiva) as the true protector beyond external threats.

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

The verse depicts a break in formal Śiva-arcana (often centered on the Liṅga as Saguna support). It implicitly teaches that worship should not be abandoned impulsively, since the Liṅga-pūjā trains the mind toward refuge in Śiva even during crisis.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain continuity of japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and, when possible, resume Liṅga-pūjā with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for fearlessness and inner composure.