Shloka 23

नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा

The Account of Śambhu’s Incarnation that Dispels Doubts Concerning Women

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति संचिन्त्यमानायां तस्यां विप्रवरस्त्रियाम् । कृपां चकार महतीं शंकरो भक्तवत्सल

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | iti saṃcintyamānāyāṃ tasyāṃ vipravarastriyām | kṛpāṃ cakāra mahatīṃ śaṃkaro bhaktavatsala

Translation

नंदीश्वर म्हणाले—ती श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मण स्त्री अशी मनात विचार करीत असता, भक्तवत्सल शंकरांनी तिच्यावर महान कृपा केली.

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: नन्दिनः ईश्वरः

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Perfect, 3rd person, Singular

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha-marker (वाक्यार्थसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्ति-बोधक अव्यय (quotative)

• संचिन्त्यमानायाम्: while (she) was thinking
• संचिन्त्यमानायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/कर्तरि शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present participle, passive/medial sense); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन — Feminine, Locative, Singular; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• तस्याम्: in/with regard to her; when she
• तस्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन — Feminine, Locative, Singular; सति-सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध

• विप्रवरस्त्रियाम्: in the excellent brāhmaṇa woman
• विप्रवरस्त्रियाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्रवर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन — Feminine, Locative, Singular; कर्मधारय: विप्रवर-स्त्री = ‘excellent brāhmaṇa woman’

• कृपाम्: compassion
• कृपाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• चकार: did; showed
• चकार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Perfect, 3rd person, Singular

• महतīm: great
• महतīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Feminine, Accusative, Singular; विशेषण ‘कृपाम्’

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भक्तवत्सलः: affectionate to devotees
• भक्तवत्सलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: भक्तानां वत्सलः; विशेषण ‘शंकरः’

Speaker

Nandīśvara (Nandin), narrating the event and praising Śiva’s grace

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Bhaktavatsala—Pati (the Lord) who responds to sincere inner turning (saṃcintana) with anugraha (grace), indicating that liberation is ultimately fulfilled by divine compassion, not mere effort alone.

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

By naming Śaṅkara as “bhaktavatsala,” the verse points to Saguna Śiva who compassionately engages with devotees in the world—an attitude central to Linga worship where the devotee approaches Śiva as present, responsive, and gracious.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is heartfelt contemplation and surrender—remembering Śiva with devotion (often supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and trusting in His anugraha as the decisive aid in overcoming suffering.