Shloka 39

Yatinātha-līlā: Śiva’s Test of the Bhilla Devotees at Arbuda Mountain

Devanagari script

यतीशब्रह्महंसाख्यावतारचरितं शुभम् । शृणुयाच्छ्रावयेद्यो हि स लभेत परां गतिम्

Transliteration

yatīśabrahmahaṃsākhyāvatāracaritaṃ śubham | śṛṇuyācchrāvayedyo hi sa labheta parāṃ gatim

Translation

जो यतीश व ब्रह्महंस नामक शिवावताराचे हे शुभ चरित्र ऐकतो किंवा इतरांना ऐकवतो, तो परम गती (मोक्ष) प्राप्त करतो.

Word by Word

• yatīśa-brahmahaṃsa-ākhya-avatāra-caritam: the auspicious account of the incarnation named Yatīśa-Brahmahaṃsa
• yatīśa-brahmahaṃsa-ākhya-avatāra-caritam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yatīśa (प्रातिपदिक) + brahmahaṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक) + avatāra (प्रातिपदिक) + carita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahupada-tatpuruṣa (बहुपद-तत्पुरुष): “yatīśabrahmahaṃsa-ākhyaḥ avatāraḥ tasya caritam” (the story of the incarnation called Yatīśa-Brahmahaṃsa); Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter/नपुंसक), Prathamā/ Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc) Ekavacana; here as Karma of verbs

• śubham: auspicious
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of “caritam”

• śṛṇuyāt: should listen
• śṛṇuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana

• śrāvayet: should cause to hear, should recite to others
• śrāvayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु) (causative/णिच्) → śrāvay (धातु-प्रयोग)
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (Optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; ṇic (causative/णिच्)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle), emphasis

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; correlative pronoun

• labheta: would obtain
• labheta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana

• parām: supreme
• parām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of “gatim”

• gatim: state, destination
• gatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative), Ekavacana

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that śravaṇa (devout listening) and śrāvaṇa/pravacana (helping others hear) of Śiva’s sacred avatāra-narratives purify the soul (paśu) and, by Śiva’s grace (pati-anugraha), lead to the highest goal—moksha.

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

The verse praises engagement with Śiva’s saguna līlā—His incarnate deeds—through which devotion matures. Such hearing supports linga-bhakti by fixing the mind on Śiva’s compassionate forms and actions, culminating in realization of His supreme state.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular kathā-śravaṇa: listen to this chapter with reverence and arrange recitation for others (parāyaṇa). As a Shaiva support-practice, accompany it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple worship such as offering water to the Śiva-liṅga.