Shloka 52

विष्णोर्दर्शनं स्तुतिश्च

Viṣṇu’s Manifestation and Brahmā’s Hymn

Devanagari script

तदा वां वेश्म संप्राप्तौ सांजली नतमस्तकौ । भव त्वमपि सर्वेशोऽवतारी गुणरूपधृक्

Transliteration

tadā vāṃ veśma saṃprāptau sāṃjalī natamastakau | bhava tvamapi sarveśo'vatārī guṇarūpadhṛk

Translation

അപ്പോൾ നിങ്ങൾ ഇരുവരും ഗൃഹത്തിലെത്തി, കൈകൂപ്പി തലകുനിച്ച് പ്രാർത്ഥിച്ചു: “ഹേ സർവേശ്വരാ, നീയും അവതാരമായി അവതരിച്ച് ഗുണരൂപം ധരിക്കണമേ.”

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• वाम्: you two
• वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया/षष्ठी-द्विवचनरूप (Accusative/Genitive dual) ‘you two’; अत्र द्वितीया (गमनस्य कर्म) अधिकयुक्तम्

• वेश्म: house/dwelling
• वेश्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेश्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (गन्तव्य-देशः)

• संप्राप्तौ: having arrived (you two)
• संप्राप्तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√प्राप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP) ‘having arrived’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; वाम् (you two) इत्यस्य विशेषण

• स-अञ्जली: with folded hands
• स-अञ्जली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्मधारय (अञ्जलिः सह = with folded hands)

• नत-मस्तकौ: with bowed heads
• नत-मस्तकौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √नम्) + मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्मधारय (नतं मस्तकं यस्य = bowed-headed)

• भव: be/become
• भव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• सर्व-ईशः: Lord of all
• सर्व-ईशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषाम् ईशः)

• अवतारी: incarnate/descended
• अवतारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवतारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (one who incarnates/has descended)

• गुण-रूप-धृक्: bearer of forms constituted of qualities
• गुण-रूप-धृक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + धृ (धातु)
• Form: धृक्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (agent noun) ‘bearer’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (गुणरूपं धारयति)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Satī narrative to the sages, reporting the prayer spoken in the scene)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: avatāra-prārthanā (petition for the Lord’s saguṇa descent for cosmic governance)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti as humble surrender—joined palms and bowed head—and affirms that the Supreme Lord (Sarveśvara) compassionately becomes approachable through saguṇa forms for the devotee’s uplift and liberation.

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

The request that Shiva “assume a form endowed with qualities” supports saguṇa-upāsanā—worship of Shiva with form and attributes—of which the Liṅga is the foremost, accessible embodiment pointing to the formless (nirguṇa) reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice reverential añjali (joined palms) with bowed head, and worship Shiva as Sarveśvara through mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating that the Lord takes form out of grace for devotees.