Shloka 3

Sunartaka-Naṭa Avatāra and Pārvatī’s Boon-Request (Śiva as the Testing Benefactor)

Devanagari script

तदा शिवः प्रसन्नो भूत्तस्यास्सुतपसो मुने । तद्वृत्तसुपरीक्षार्थं वरं दातुम्मुदा ययौ

Transliteration

tadā śivaḥ prasanno bhūttasyāssutapaso mune | tadvṛttasuparīkṣārthaṃ varaṃ dātummudā yayau

Translation

Then Lord Śiva was pleased by that sage’s noble austerity; and, to thoroughly test the steadiness of his conduct, Śiva joyfully went forth to grant him a boon.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रसन्नः: pleased
• प्रसन्नः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying शिवः)

• भूत्: became
• भूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• सुतपसः: of (her) excellent austerity
• सुतपसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (सु + तपस् = उत्तमं तपः)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (refers to her conduct)

• वृत्त: conduct
• वृत्त: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (आचरण/वृत्त)

• सुपरीक्षा-अर्थम्: for careful examination
• सुपरीक्षा-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-परिक्षा-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी/उपपद-तत्पुरुष (सुपरीक्षायाः अर्थः = for thorough examination)

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दातुम्: to give
• दातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थक

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाववाचक (with joy)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sage (Muni)

FAQs

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

It shows that Śiva’s grace arises when tapas is joined with right conduct (vṛtta). The Lord may test a seeker’s steadiness so the boon becomes spiritually elevating rather than ego-feeding.

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

Here Śiva acts as Saguna—personally approaching the devotee. In Linga-worship too, the devotee seeks not only results but the Lord’s pleased presence, which comes through disciplined devotion and purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sustained tapas with ethical vows: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), simple worship with bhasma and Rudrākṣa (as per capacity), and self-examination of conduct—since the ‘test’ concerns vṛtta (character).