Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

ततः स्वकन्यया सार्द्धमुवास प्रांगणे मुदा । मेना च हिमवाञ्छैलः स्नातुं गंगां जगाम सः

Transliteration

tataḥ svakanyayā sārddhamuvāsa prāṃgaṇe mudā | menā ca himavāñchailaḥ snātuṃ gaṃgāṃ jagāma saḥ

Translation

తర్వాత అతడు తన కుమార్తెతో కలిసి ప్రాంగణంలో ఆనందంగా నివసించాడు. మేనా మరియు శైలరాజు హిమవంతుడు గంగాస్నానానికి వెళ్లారు.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/अनन्तरवाचक (then/thereafter)

• स्व: own
• स्व: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बन्धवाचक विशेषण; ‘स्वकन्यया’ इत्यत्र पूर्वपद (own-)

• कन्यया: with (his) daughter
• कन्यया: Sahakāraka (सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (सह/करण), एकवचन

• सार्द्धम्: together with
• सार्द्धम्: Saha (सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्द्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (with/together)

• उवास: dwelt/stayed
• उवास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• प्राङ्गणे: in the courtyard
• प्राङ्गणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राङ्गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/भाव), एकवचन; भावे—‘with joy’

• मेना: Menā
• मेना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• हिमवान्: Himavān
• हिमवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शैलः: the mountain
• शैलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘हिमवान् शैलः’—समानाधिकरण (apposition)

• स्नातुम्: to bathe
• स्नातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थ (for bathing)

• गङ्गाम्: to the Ganges
• गङ्गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Menā
• Himavān
• Gaṅgā

FAQs

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

The verse highlights auspicious domestic harmony and purification: dwelling in joy with one’s family while turning to Gaṅgā for sacred bathing symbolizes inner and outer cleansing that supports devotion to Pati (Śiva) and steadiness on the dharmic path.

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

Gaṅgā-snana is a preparatory act commonly associated with approaching Saguna Śiva worship—purifying oneself before pūjā, abhiṣeka, or vrata. In Shaiva practice, such purity supports focused bhakti toward the Liṅga as the accessible form of the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform purification before Śiva-worship—ideally a sacred bath (or mental bath through mantra), followed by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a calm, joyful mind.