Shloka 34

Vaiśyanātha-avatāra-kathā

The Account of Śiva’s Manifestation as Vaiśyanātha

Devanagari script

स मर्कटो मुक्तबन्धः कुक्कुटेन सहामुना । भिया दूरं हि दुद्राव विधूयाग्निकणान्बहून्

Transliteration

sa markaṭo muktabandhaḥ kukkuṭena sahāmunā | bhiyā dūraṃ hi dudrāva vidhūyāgnikaṇānbahūn

Translation

బంధనముక్తుడైన ఆ కోతి, ఈ కోడితో కలిసి, భయంతో చాలా దూరం పరుగెత్తి, అనేక అగ్నికణాలను ఊడి వేసాడు।

Word by Word

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

• मर्कटः: the monkey
• मर्कटः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्कट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मुक्तबन्धः: with bonds released
• मुक्तबन्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त (मुच्-धातु, क्त कृदन्त) + बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (बन्धः मुक्तः यस्य/मुक्तः बन्धः) — ‘whose bond is released’

• कुक्कुटेन: with the rooster
• कुक्कुटेन: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुक्कुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; सहार्थे करण/सहकारी

• सह: together with
• सह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-योगे अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable), तृतीया-सहचर्य

• अमुना: with that one (him)
• अमुना: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भिया: out of fear
• भिया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेतौ तृतीया (instrumental of cause)

• दूरम्: far away
• दूरम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb), अव्ययीभूत-प्रयोग (accusative used adverbially)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारण/कारणसूचक

• दुद्राव: ran
• दुद्राव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विधूय: having shaken off
• विधूय: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धू (धातु) → विधूय (कृदन्त, क्त्वान्त अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having shaken off)

• अग्निकणान्: sparks of fire
• अग्निकणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + कण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अग्नेः कणाः)

• बहून्: many
• बहून्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘अग्निकणान्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

FAQs

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

The verse uses a simple action—release from bonds followed by fleeing in fear—to mirror the soul’s condition: even when a bondage (pāśa) is cut, lingering fear and karmic impressions can persist until one takes refuge in Pati (Lord Shiva) and gains steady inner freedom.

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

In Shaiva Siddhanta, Saguna Shiva (worshiped as the Linga) is the compassionate Lord who removes bondage and burns impurities. The “sparks of fire” imagery aligns with Shiva’s purifying grace—devotion to the Linga is presented as a practical refuge that stabilizes the mind after release from worldly constraints.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A fitting takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to pacify fear and stabilize liberation, along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of Shiva’s purifying fire that reduces residual karmic heat.