Shloka 10

शिवस्यार्द्धनारीनरावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Ardhanārī-nara Manifestation

Devanagari script

अथ देवो महादेवो वाचा मेघगभीरया । संभवाय सुसंप्रीतो विश्वकर्त्ता महेश्वरः

Transliteration

atha devo mahādevo vācā meghagabhīrayā | saṃbhavāya susaṃprīto viśvakarttā maheśvaraḥ

Translation

അപ്പോൾ വിശ്വകർത്താവായ മഹേശ്വരൻ മഹാദേവൻ, സംഭവനിൽ അത്യന്തം പ്രസന്നനായി, മേഘഗർജനപോലെ ഗംഭീരമായ വാണിയിൽ അവനോട് അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു।

Word by Word

• अथ: then; now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अनुक्रम/आरम्भ-सूचकः निपातः

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; महादेवः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्

• महादेवः: Mahādeva
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• वाचा: with (his) speech/voice
• वाचा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• मेघ-गभीरया: deep like a cloud
• मेघ-गभीरया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + गभीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः; स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (वाचा इति)

• संभवाय: for (the purpose of) manifestation/origin
• संभवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (Dative), एकवचनम्; प्रयोजनार्थ-चतुर्थी

• सु-सं-प्रीतः: very pleased
• सु-सं-प्रीतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + संप्रीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √प्री)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (महेश्वरः इति)

• विश्व-कर्त्ता: creator of the universe
• विश्व-कर्त्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्तृवाचक-नाम

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Mahadeva/Maheshvara)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sambhava

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who responds personally when pleased—showing that divine grace (anugraha) flows to the sincere devotee and becomes the doorway to spiritual upliftment.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Mahādeva who speaks and guides. In Linga worship, the devotee approaches the formless-with-form symbol, and Śiva’s pleasure signifies acceptance of worship and readiness to bestow instruction and blessings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is devotion that pleases Śiva: steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with humility, supported by simple Śaiva observances like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa where appropriate.