Shloka 33

भक्तिभेदाः—ज्ञानप्रधानभक्तेः प्रशंसा

Grades of Devotees and the Praise of Knowledge-Centered Devotion

Devanagari script

कालं निनाय विज्ञानी बहु तच्चरितं वदन् । लौकिकीं गतिमाश्रित्य दर्शयन् कामितां प्रभुः

Transliteration

kālaṃ nināya vijñānī bahu taccaritaṃ vadan | laukikīṃ gatimāśritya darśayan kāmitāṃ prabhuḥ

Translation

พระผู้ทรงรอบรู้ยิ่งทรงใช้กาลเวลาโดยตรัสเล่าเรื่องราวเหล่านั้นอย่างพิสดาร และทรงอาศัยอาการแบบโลกีย์เพื่อทรงแสดงหนทาง (คติ) อันเป็นที่ปรารถนา

Word by Word

• कालम्: time
• कालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निनाय: spent/led (away)
• निनाय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• विज्ञानी: the knower/wise one
• विज्ञानी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्ञानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बहु: much
• बहु: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘much’ (तच्चरितम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• तत्चरितम्: that conduct/story
• तत्चरितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तस्य चरितम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वदन्: speaking/telling
• वदन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• लौकिकीम्: worldly
• लौकिकीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लौकिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; गतिम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• गतिम्: course/way
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आश्रित्य: having resorted to
• आश्रित्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive), “having resorted to”

• दर्शयन्: showing
• दर्शयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु, णिजन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle, causative), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• कामिताम्: desired
• कामिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; (गति/स्थितिम् प्रति) ‘desired’

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Śiva’s līlā as pedagogical: the Lord may assume laukika conduct without losing transcendence—guiding devotees to discern pati beyond appearances.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s compassion: though supremely omniscient, He may assume a worldly mode of conduct and narration to guide beings toward the wished-for good—ultimately dharma and liberation—according to their capacity.

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

The verse reflects Saguna Shiva’s līlā—God making Himself accessible through relatable actions and speech. In Linga worship too, the transcendent (Nirguna) is approached through a manifest, graspable form (Saguna) for devotion and inner transformation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa and remembrance—especially the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—while living in the world, seeing Shiva’s guidance even through ordinary events and conduct.