Shloka 64

नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा

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

Devanagari script

ततस्स भगवाञ्च्छम्भुर्धृतभिक्षुतनुर्द्रुतम् । पश्यन्त्या विप्रपन्त्यास्तु तत्रैवान्तरधीयत

Transliteration

tatassa bhagavāñcchambhurdhṛtabhikṣutanurdrutam | paśyantyā viprapantyāstu tatraivāntaradhīyata

Translation

Then Bhagavān Śambhu (Śiva), having assumed the form of a mendicant, swiftly vanished right there, even as the brāhmaṇa’s wife looked on.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादान/अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (then/from there)

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

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• शम्भुः: Śambhu
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भगवान् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणवत् (appositional)

• धृतभिक्षुतनुः: he who had assumed a beggar's body
• धृतभिक्षुतनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृत (धृ धातु + क्त, कृदन्त) + भिक्षु + तनु (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—'धृता भिक्षुतनुः येन सः'

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• पश्यन्त्याः: of (her) who was watching
• पश्यन्त्याः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश्यत् (दृश् धातु + शतृ, कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; 'while she was seeing'—genitive absolute nuance

• विप्रपत्नीः: of the brahmin's wife
• विप्रपत्नीः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विप्रस्य पत्नी)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• एव: just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic)

• अन्तर्धीयत: disappeared
• अन्तर्धीयत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन्तर् + धा (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्गयुक्त

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; the ‘antaradhāna’ (disappearance) exemplifies the Lord’s concealment function after granting a moment of revelation.

Significance: Teaches that darśana may be momentary; separation intensifies remembrance and sustained sādhana—concealment (tirodhāna) can itself mature devotion.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

Śiva’s sudden disappearance teaches that the Lord (Pati) is not grasped by mere outward seeing; His grace is revealed when devotion and discernment mature beyond appearances.

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

Śiva takes a saguna form (a bhikṣu) to guide beings, yet remains transcendent; Linga-worship similarly trains the devotee to honor the visible symbol while realizing the invisible Lord beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice humble bhakti with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and cultivate inner detachment—seeing Śiva in all guises rather than clinging to external signs alone.