Shloka 95

नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा

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

Devanagari script

विदर्भे सोभवद्राजा जन्मनीह शिवव्रती । शिवार्चनान्तरायेण परैर्भोगांन्तरे हतः

Transliteration

vidarbhe sobhavadrājā janmanīha śivavratī | śivārcanāntarāyeṇa parairbhogāṃntare hataḥ

Translation

In the land of Vidarbha he was born a king, steadfast in the vow of devotion to Śiva. Yet, as others obstructed his worship of Śiva, he was slain amid his worldly enjoyments.

Word by Word

• vidarbhe: in Vidarbha
• vidarbhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidarbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (देशवाचक), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता

• abhavat: became/was
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• rājā: king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय/कर्तृपद

• janmani: in (that) birth
• janmani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण: ‘in (that) birth’

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक: ‘here’

• śiva-vratī: a votary of Śiva
• śiva-vratī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + vratin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘one devoted to Śiva’s vow’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (to rājā)

• śivārcana-antarāyeṇa: due to obstruction of Śiva’s worship
• śivārcana-antarāyeṇa: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + arcana (प्रातिपदिक) + antarāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘obstacle to Śiva-worship’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; हेतु/करण

• paraiḥ: by others
• paraiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्तृकरण (agent in passive)

• bhoga-antare: amid enjoyments
• bhoga-antare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoga (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी: ‘in the midst of enjoyments’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• hataḥ: killed, slain
• hataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु) → hata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate): ‘was slain’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Didactic warning: even a Śiva-vratin can face karmic/hostile interruption; steadfastness and reliance on Śiva’s grace are implied as the path beyond worldly ‘bhoga’.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights that sincere Śiva-bhakti (śiva-vrata) is a powerful dharmic orientation, yet worldly life remains vulnerable to karma and hostility; therefore, devotion should be protected through steadiness, humility, and reliance on Śiva rather than on bhoga.

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

The verse emphasizes śivārcana—personal, tangible worship of Śiva (commonly through the Śiva-liṅga in Saguna upāsanā). Interrupting such worship is treated as a serious spiritual hindrance, underscoring the value of regular, uninterrupted liṅga-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain daily, obstacle-free Śiva-arcana—such as liṅga-abhiṣeka with the Panchākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), wearing rudrākṣa and applying tripuṇḍra/bhasma as supports for steadiness and protection of one’s vow.