Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

तन्द्रष्टुं नागरास्सर्वे पुरुषाश्च स्त्रियस्तथा । आजग्मुस्सहसा तत्र बाला वृद्धा अपि ध्रुवम्

Transliteration

tandraṣṭuṃ nāgarāssarve puruṣāśca striyastathā | ājagmussahasā tatra bālā vṛddhā api dhruvam

Translation

御姿を拝せんと、町の人々は男も女もこぞって急ぎ集まった。まことに、子らも老いた者たちもまた来たのである。

Word by Word

• तत्: that (event/sight)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (उद्देश्य/वस्तु)

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थक

• नागराः: citizens/townsmen
• नागराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying नागराः)

• पुरुषाः: men
• पुरुषाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• आजग्मुः: came
• आजग्मुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: आ

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: suddenly)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय

• बालाः: children
• बालाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (समूहवाचक: children)

• वृद्धाः: the old/elders
• वृद्धाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (समूहवाचक: elders)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also/even)

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle/adverb: certainly)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Darśana of Śiva—even when his majesty is veiled—draws all classes of beings; the verse models pilgrimage as spontaneous attraction (ākarṣaṇa) toward the Lord’s presence.

FAQs

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

It highlights the universal pull of Shiva-darshan: when the Lord manifests (Saguna grace), devotion arises spontaneously across age and gender, showing bhakti as an accessible path toward purification and liberation.

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

The verse emphasizes “seeing” (darshan) the manifested Lord—an essential aspect of Saguna worship, akin to approaching the Shiva-Linga or a visible form of Shiva with longing, reverence, and immediacy.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to seek Shiva-darshan through temple worship of the Linga, repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with focused intent, especially in congregational settings that strengthen bhakti.