Shloka 76

नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा

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

Devanagari script

भिक्षुवर्य्यावतारस्ते वर्णितश्च मयाधुना । शिवस्य धर्मगुप्ताह्व नृपबालसुखप्रदः

Transliteration

bhikṣuvaryyāvatāraste varṇitaśca mayādhunā | śivasya dharmaguptāhva nṛpabālasukhapradaḥ

Translation

I have now described to you that excellent incarnation of Śiva as the foremost mendicant, named Dharma-gupta, who bestows happiness upon the king’s child.

Word by Word

• भिक्षुवर्यावतारः: the incarnation as the excellent mendicant
• भिक्षुवर्यावतारः: Karta/Prastuta (प्रस्तुत/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षुवर्य + अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: भिक्षुवर्य-ावतार (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘the incarnation of the best mendicant’)

• ते: of you/your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वर्णितः: has been described
• वर्णितः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘described’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• धर्मगुप्ताह्व: (he) named Dharmagupta
• धर्मगुप्ताह्व: Karta/Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मगुप्त + आह्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: धर्मगुप्त-आह्व (तत्पुरुष: ‘named Dharmagupta’); पदान्त ‘आह्व’ = ‘आह्वय’ का संक्षिप्त रूप

• नृपबालसुखप्रदः: giver of happiness to the king’s child
• नृपबालसुखप्रदः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृप + बाल + सुख + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: नृपबालस्य सुखं प्रददाति इति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s grace expressed through an ascetic (bhikṣu) form: the Lord protects dharma and relieves suffering, showing that compassion and spiritual authority can appear in humble, renunciate guise.

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

The verse points to Saguna Shiva—Shiva with attributes—who manifests as Dharmagupta. Such narratives support devotional worship of Shiva (including Linga worship) by emphasizing his accessible, grace-bestowing presence in the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is bhakti to Shiva’s ascetic form: japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a dharmic, compassionate intention, seeking Shiva’s anugraha (grace) for relief from suffering.