Shloka 30

Vaiśyanātha-avatāra-kathā

The Account of Śiva’s Manifestation as Vaiśyanātha

Devanagari script

सा तेन संगता रात्रौ वैश्येन विटधर्मिणा । सुखं सुष्वाप पर्यंके मृदुतल्पोपशो भिते

Transliteration

sā tena saṃgatā rātrau vaiśyena viṭadharmiṇā | sukhaṃ suṣvāpa paryaṃke mṛdutalpopaśo bhite

Translation

ആ രാത്രിയിൽ അവൾ വിറ്റധർമ്മം അനുസരിച്ച് പെരുമാറുന്ന ആ വൈശ്യനോടൊപ്പം ചേർന്നു; മൃദുവായ കിടക്കയാൽ അലങ്കരിച്ച പള്ളക്കിൽ സുഖമായി ഉറങ്ങി.

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तेन: with him
• तेन: Saha (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• संगता: united / having joined
• संगता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + √गम् (धातु) → संगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• वैश्येन: with the vaiśya (merchant)
• वैश्येन: Saha (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विटधर्मिणा: with one of the ‘viṭa’ disposition (libertine-like)
• विटधर्मिणा: Saha (सह/साकं)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विट + धर्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: विटधर्मः यस्य/विटधर्मिन्), पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुखम्: comfortably
• सुखम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd) एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative)

• सुष्वाप: slept
• सुष्वाप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्वप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• पर्यङ्के: on the couch/bed
• पर्यङ्के: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्यङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• मृदुतल्पोपशोभिते: on (a bed) adorned with a soft mattress
• मृदुतल्पोपशोभिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु + तल्प + उपशोभित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मृदुतल्पेन उपशोभितः/उपशोभिते), भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग? अत्र ‘पर्यङ्के’ इति अधिकरणे विशेषणत्वात् सप्तमी-एकवचन (Locative singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

It highlights how comfort and sense-enjoyment can bind the soul (paśu) through attachment (pāśa), underscoring the need for dharmic restraint and turning the mind toward Shiva for liberation.

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

By contrasting worldly indulgence with the higher aim of Shiva-bhakti, it implicitly points to Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-puja) as a stabilizing discipline that purifies desire and redirects life toward grace (anugraha).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate self-control and adopt purificatory Shaiva observances—daily Linga worship with mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined conduct—rather than being led by sensual impulses.