Shloka 44

Vaiśyanātha-avatāra-kathā

The Account of Śiva’s Manifestation as Vaiśyanātha

Devanagari script

अथ सा दुःखिता वेश्या स्मृत्वा धर्म सुनिर्मलम् । सर्वान्बंधुजनान्वीक्ष्य बभाषे करुणं वचः

Transliteration

atha sā duḥkhitā veśyā smṛtvā dharma sunirmalam | sarvānbaṃdhujanānvīkṣya babhāṣe karuṇaṃ vacaḥ

Translation

ครั้นแล้วนางคณิกาผู้โศกเศร้า ระลึกถึงความบริสุทธิ์ไร้มลทินแห่งธรรมะ แล้วมองไปยังญาติพี่น้องทั้งหลาย ก่อนกล่าวถ้อยคำอันเปี่ยมเมตตา

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दुःखिता: sorrowful
• दुःखिता: विशेषण (to कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःखित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (afflicted)

• वेश्या: the courtesan
• वेश्या: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेश्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: पूर्वकाल (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), धातु: स्मृ; ‘having remembered’

• धर्मम्: dharma/righteousness
• धर्मम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सु-निर्मलम्: very pure
• सु-निर्मलम्: विशेषण (to धर्मम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + निर्मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वपद/कर्मधारय: ‘अत्यन्तं निर्मलम्’

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: कर्म (object of ‘seeing’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• बन्धु-जनान्: relatives/kinsfolk
• बन्धु-जनान्: कर्म (object of ‘seeing’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘बन्धूनां जनाः’ (kinsmen/relatives)

• वीक्ष्य: having looked at
• वीक्ष्य: पूर्वकाल (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), धातु: ईक्ष्; ‘having looked at’

• बभाषे: spoke
• बभाषे: क्रिया (मुख्य क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; धातु: भाष् ‘to speak’

• करुणम्: pitiful/compassionate
• करुणम्: विशेषण (to वचः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वचः: words/speech
• वचः: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘वचस्’ शब्द

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes dharma-śuddhi and compassionate speech as signs of inner purification; in Siddhānta, such ethical clarity supports bhakti and prepares the paśu for Śiva’s liberating grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It highlights inner turning: even one burdened by sorrow and social identity can remember pure dharma, awaken compassion, and begin the path that ripens into Shiva-bhakti and liberation.

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

Remembering stainless dharma and speaking compassionately is the ethical foundation (ācāra) that makes Linga-worship fruitful; Saguna Shiva is approached through purity of conduct, humility, and mercy.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt dharmic self-review (smṛti of right conduct) before worship, then perform simple Shiva-japa such as the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a compassionate resolve toward family and all beings.