Shloka 36

Śiva-nāma-smaraṇa and Śambhu’s Protective Manifestation

Dāruka Episode

Devanagari script

ततः प्रसन्नो देवेशः प्रत्यक्षं प्राह शंकरः । काष्ठस्य मत्स्यिकां कृत्वा त्रपुधातु विलेपनाम्

Transliteration

tataḥ prasanno deveśaḥ pratyakṣaṃ prāha śaṃkaraḥ | kāṣṭhasya matsyikāṃ kṛtvā trapudhātu vilepanām

Translation

అప్పుడు దేవాధిదేవుడు శంకరుడు ప్రసన్నుడై ప్రత్యక్షంగా పలికెను— “చెక్కతో చిన్న చేప ఆకారాన్ని తయారు చేసి, దానిపై మూడు లోహాల మిశ్రమాన్ని పూతగా వేయుము।”

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय; tad)
• Form: अपादानार्थक/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: then/thereupon)

• prasannaḥ: pleased
• prasannaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (कृदन्त; √sad (धातु) with pra-)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• deva-īśaḥ: Lord of the gods
• deva-īśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (devānām īśaḥ = lord of gods)

• pratyakṣam: manifestly/in person
• pratyakṣam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pratyakṣa (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्रयोग)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया-एकवचन (adverbial accusative: visibly/in person)

• prāha: said
• prāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• śaṃkaraḥ: Śaṅkara
• śaṃkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kāṣṭhasya: of wood
• kāṣṭhasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• matsyikām: a small fish/fish-form
• matsyikām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: matsyikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having made)

• trapu-dhātu: tin (metal)
• trapu-dhātu: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trapu (प्रातिपदिक) + dhātu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (trapu-nāmakaḥ dhātuḥ = tin-metal)

• vilepanām: a coating/plastering
• vilepanām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vilepanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (लेपनक्रिया/लेपनद्रव्य)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Shankara)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Śiva’s direct appearance (pratyakṣa) marks the turning point: the Lord responds to tapas by giving a practical upāya (means) involving a crafted object, preparing the devotee for entry into the sacred locus tied to Nāgeśvara.

Significance: Affirms the doctrine that sincere worship culminates in darśana and direct guidance from Śiva, a key motif in Jyotirliṅga origin cycles.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva as the compassionate Pati (Lord) who becomes directly manifest to guide the devotee, teaching that sincere devotion invites divine instruction and grace.

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

Śiva’s “pratyakṣa” speech reflects Saguna Śiva—God approachable through form and action—who authorizes specific sacred procedures; such guidance supports disciplined worship that culminates in inner realization of the formless (Nirguna) truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies a prescribed ritual preparation of an object (wooden form coated with tri-metal), emphasizing careful, rule-based worship (vidhi) performed with mantra and devotion—an attitude central to Shaiva practice.