Shloka 20

साधुवेषद्विजाह्वयावतारकथनम् | Account of the ‘Sādhu-veṣa’ Brahmin-Named Incarnation

Prelude

Devanagari script

दण्डी छत्री दिब्यवासा बिभ्रत्तिलकमुज्ज्वलम् । करे स्फटिकमालां च शालग्रामं गले दधत्

Transliteration

daṇḍī chatrī dibyavāsā bibhrattilakamujjvalam | kare sphaṭikamālāṃ ca śālagrāmaṃ gale dadhat

Translation

He appeared as an ascetic bearing a staff and an umbrella, clad in radiant divine garments, his forehead shining with a bright tilaka. In his hand he held a crystal rosary, and upon his neck he wore a Śālagrāma—thus assuming a distinct, visible form for the sake of devotees.

Word by Word

• दण्डी: staff-bearing
• दण्डी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (possessive adjective)

• छत्री: umbrella-bearing
• छत्री: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छत्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• दिव्य-वासा: wearing divine garments
• दिव्य-वासा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वासस्/वासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; कर्मधारय-समास (दिव्यः वासाः यस्य)

• बिभ्रत्: bearing
• बिभ्रत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘bearing/holding’

• तिलकम्: tilaka mark
• तिलकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उज्ज्वलम्: bright, radiant
• उज्ज्वलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (तिलकम् इति विशेष्यस्य)

• करे: in (his) hand
• करे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• स्फटिक-मालाम्: a crystal garland/rosary
• स्फटिक-मालाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्फटिक (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्फटिकस्य माला)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शालग्रामम्: Śālagrāma stone
• शालग्रामम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गले: on (his) neck
• गले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• दधत्: wearing/placing
• दधत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘placing/holding/wearing’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Śiva’s adoption of an ascetic disguise exemplifies tirodhāna (concealment): the Lord veils his majesty to move among beings and accomplish a purpose, often to test, teach, or bless devotees.

Significance: Encourages recognition of the divine in humble forms (sādhu-veṣa), a common purāṇic ethic of hospitality and reverence.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays Shiva’s compassionate willingness to appear in an accessible, Saguna manner—adopting recognizable marks of piety—so devotees can approach him with faith, discipline, and remembrance.

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

While the Linga is Shiva’s supreme emblem beyond limitation, this verse highlights Saguna manifestation—Shiva taking a perceivable guise—showing that both emblem (Linga) and form support devotion and lead the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The crystal rosary indicates mantra-japa (such as the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steadiness and purity of mind, supported by external disciplines like tilaka and devotional observance.