Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

ततः स भिक्षुकस्तात नानालीलाविशारदः । दर्शयामास शैलाय स्वप्रभावमनन्तकम्

Transliteration

tataḥ sa bhikṣukastāta nānālīlāviśāradaḥ | darśayāmāsa śailāya svaprabhāvamanantakam

Translation

അപ്പോൾ, പ്രിയമേ, നാനാ ലീലകളിൽ നിപുണനായ ആ ഭിക്ഷുക്കൻ ശൈലരാജനായ (ഹിമാലയൻ)ക്ക് തന്റെ അനന്തമായ മഹിമയും പ്രഭാവവും വെളിപ്പെടുത്തി.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: ततः-शब्दः, अनन्तर/हेतुवाचक अव्यय (thereupon/then)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भिक्षुकः: the mendicant
• भिक्षुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• नाना: various
• नाना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् विशेषण (various), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन-विशेषणसम्बन्धः (समासाङ्ग)

• लीला: play/sport
• लीला: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• विशारदः: skilled
• विशारदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• दर्शयामास: showed
• दर्शयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Periphrastic Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: caused to see/showed)

• शैलाय: to Śailā (Pārvatī)
• शैलाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• स्व: his own
• स्व: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (प्रभावम्)

• प्रभावम्: power/majesty
• प्रभावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनन्तकम्: endless
• अनन्तकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (प्रभावम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Śiva, after testing through disguise, begins anugraha by revealing ‘svaprabhāva’ (innate boundless majesty) to Himālaya—turning misunderstanding into recognition.

Significance: Models the devotee’s turning point: when humility replaces hostility, the Lord’s grace manifests as direct insight into His greatness.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Himalaya

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva may appear in humble forms (like a bhikshuka), yet His true nature is infinite; liberation arises when the devotee recognizes the Lord’s boundless prabhava revealed through grace.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Shiva’s compassionate self-disclosure—He makes Himself knowable through form, action, and darshana; similarly, the Linga is the accessible sacred presence through which the infinite Lord is approached.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt bhakti with humility—daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditative remembrance of Shiva’s grace, seeing beyond outer appearances to His limitless inner majesty.