Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

एवं सुबहुरूपाणि तस्य तत्र ददर्श सः । सुविस्मितो बभूवाशु परमानन्दसंप्लुतः

Transliteration

evaṃ subahurūpāṇi tasya tatra dadarśa saḥ | suvismito babhūvāśu paramānandasaṃplutaḥ

Translation

Thus, he beheld there the Lord’s exceedingly many forms. Instantly he was filled with wonder and became immersed in supreme bliss.

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), prakāra-avyaya (प्रकार-अव्यय)

• su-bahu-rūpāṇi: very many forms
• su-bahu-rūpāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (अव्यय) + bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘ati-bahūni rūpāṇi’

• tasya: of him/of that (one)
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), deśa-avyaya (देश-अव्यय)

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Parasmaipada, Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• su-vismitaḥ: greatly astonished
• su-vismitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + vismita (कृदन्त; √smi/vis्मि)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; PPP (क्त) used adjectivally; karmadhāraya ‘ati-vismitaḥ’

• babhūva: became
• babhūva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Parasmaipada, Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• āśu: quickly
• āśu: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), kāla-avyaya (काल-अव्यय)

• parama-ānanda-saṃplutaḥ: immersed in supreme bliss
• parama-ānanda-saṃplutaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃpluta (कृदन्त; √plu प्लु with saṃ-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘parama-ānandena saṃplutaḥ’ (immersed in supreme bliss)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that Shiva, as Pati (the Lord), manifests innumerable forms for the devotee’s uplift; true darshan culminates in vismaya (holy awe) and paramānanda (supreme bliss), indicating grace that loosens the bonds of pasha.

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

Seeing ‘many forms’ supports Saguna-upasana: the one Shiva is approached through accessible manifestations—Linga, icons, and divine forms—while remaining the same supreme reality beyond limitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Shiva-dhyana with the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namah Shivaya), focusing on Shiva’s forms with devotion; this is traditionally supported by Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha as aids to steady remembrance.