Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

इति प्रोक्तस्तु ते तात सुनर्तकनटाह्वयः । शिवावतारो हि मया शिवावाक्यप्रपूरकः

Transliteration

iti proktastu te tāta sunartakanaṭāhvayaḥ | śivāvatāro hi mayā śivāvākyaprapūrakaḥ

Translation

ಇಂತೆ, ಪ್ರಿಯ ಮಗನೇ, ‘ಸುನರ್ತಕ’ ಎಂದು, ‘ನಟ’ ಎಂದೂ ಕರೆಯಲ್ಪಡುವವನ ವಿಷಯವನ್ನು ನಾನು ನಿನಗೆ ಹೇಳಿದೆನು. ಅವನು ನಿಶ್ಚಯವಾಗಿ ಶಿವಾವತಾರ; ಭಗವಾನ್ ಶಿವನ ವಾಕ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಕಲ್ಪವನ್ನು ಪೂರ್ಣಗೊಳಿಸಲು ನನ್ನಿಂದ ಪ್ರಾದುರ್ಭವಿಸಿದವನು.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-समाप्ति-निपात

• प्रोक्तः: was spoken; was told
• प्रोक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अनुवाद-निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी (to you)

• तात: O dear one/son
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• सुनर्तकनटाह्वयः: (one) named Sunartaka-naṭa
• सुनर्तकनटाह्वयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-नर्तक-नट-आह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: यस्य आह्वयः (नाम) 'सुनर्तकनट' इति

• शिवावतारः: an incarnation of Śiva
• शिवावतारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: शिवस्य अवतारः

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/indeed)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन

• शिवावाक्यप्रपूरकः: fulfiller of Śiva’s command/words
• शिवावाक्यप्रपूरकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-वाक्य-प्रपूरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: शिवस्य वाक्यस्य प्रपूरकः (one who fulfils Śiva's words)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights avatāra as ‘śivāvākya-prapūraka’—Śiva’s will operating through a manifested agent; for devotees, recognizing Śiva’s hidden governance (tirodhāna) matures into reliance on anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes that Śiva’s incarnations arise for a precise divine purpose—fulfilling Śiva’s own word—showing the sovereignty of Pati (Śiva) whose will guides cosmic order and liberation.

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

By identifying a specific avatāra as the executor of Śiva’s intention, the verse supports Saguna Śiva devotion: devotees can revere Śiva’s purposeful manifestations while understanding they serve the one Supreme Śiva symbolized by the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sankalpa-based japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with contemplation that one’s actions align with Śiva-vākya (Śiva’s will), reinforcing disciplined bhakti rather than mere storytelling.