Shloka 23

Devanagari script

गुणकार्य्यप्रभेदेनावाभ्यां प्रादुर्भवः कृतः । भक्तहेतोर्जगत्यस्मिन्भक्तवत्सलभावतः

Transliteration

guṇakāryyaprabhedenāvābhyāṃ prādurbhavaḥ kṛtaḥ | bhaktahetorjagatyasminbhaktavatsalabhāvataḥ

Translation

En distinguant les fonctions issues des guṇa, nous deux nous sommes manifestés dans ce monde. Cette manifestation est pour les dévots (bhakta), car, dans cet univers, notre nature est d’une tendre affection envers ceux qui nous vénèrent.

Word by Word

• गुण-कार्य-प्रभेदेन: by/through the distinction of effects of the guṇas
• गुण-कार्य-प्रभेदेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/हेतु), एकवचन; समासः—(गुणस्य कार्यस्य) प्रभेदः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः, तेन (instrumental)

• आवाभ्याम्: by us two
• आवाभ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया, द्विवचन (dual instrumental)

• प्रादुर्भवः: manifestation/appearance
• प्रादुर्भवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रादुर्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कृतः: was made/was effected
• कृतः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृ-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः—‘made/caused’

• भक्त-हेतोः: for the sake/cause of devotees
• भक्त-हेतोः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; समासः—भक्तानां हेतुḥ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• जगति: in the world
• जगति: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (locative)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• भक्त-वत्सल-भावतः: because of (your) affectionate nature toward devotees
• भक्त-वत्सल-भावतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन (ablative—‘because of/from’); समासः—भक्तेषु वत्सलः इति कर्मधारयः ‘भक्तवत्सल’, तस्य भावः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Lord’s manifestation is not random but an act of anugraha (grace): the Divine appears with differentiated functions in the guṇa-bound world specifically to protect, guide, and uplift devotees toward liberation.

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

It supports Saguna worship: though Shiva is ultimately beyond guṇas (nirguṇa), He compassionately becomes accessible through manifest forms—such as the Liṅga—so devotees can approach Him with devotion and receive His grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is bhakti-centered sādhana: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Liṅga-pūjā, offered in a spirit of surrender, aligning one’s actions with devotion to invite Shiva’s anugraha.