Shloka 37

Yatinātha-līlā: Śiva’s Test of the Bhilla Devotees at Arbuda Mountain

Devanagari script

शिवो हंसावतारो हि नानावार्ताविचक्षणः । दमयन्त्या नलस्यापि परमानन्ददायकः

Transliteration

śivo haṃsāvatāro hi nānāvārtāvicakṣaṇaḥ | damayantyā nalasyāpi paramānandadāyakaḥ

Translation

Tunay nga, si Śiva ay nagkatawang-tao bilang Hamsa, ang banal na sisne, na marunong umunawa sa sari-saring salaysay at maseselang aral; at kina Damayantī at Nala, Siya ang nagkakaloob ng sukdulang kaligayahan.

Word by Word

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• haṃsa-avatāraḥ: the Haṃsa incarnation
• haṃsa-avatāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (haṃsasya avatāraḥ)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle (emphasis/indeed)

• nānā-vārtā-vicakṣaṇaḥ: skilled in many discourses/arts
• nānā-vārtā-vicakṣaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of śivaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + vārtā (प्रातिपदिक) + vicakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (nānā-vārtāsu vicakṣaṇaḥ)

• damayantyāḥ: of Damayantī
• damayantyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: damayantī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• nalasya: of Nala
• nalasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle (also/even)

• parama-ānanda-dāyakaḥ: giver of supreme bliss
• parama-ānanda-dāyakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of śivaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक) + dāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (paramaṃ ānandaṃ dāyati iti)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Portrays Śiva as giver of paramānanda; recitation is positioned as bhakti-sādhana yielding inner peace and auspiciousness.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Hamsa (swan form)
• Damayanti
• Nala

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s compassionate Saguna activity: He takes a specific form (Haṃsa) to guide beings through subtle wisdom and, through grace (anugraha), grants paramānanda—supreme spiritual joy that culminates in liberation-oriented peace.

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

While the Liṅga points to Śiva beyond form (Nirguṇa) and within all forms, this verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Śiva who actively assumes an avatāra to teach and bless. Liṅga-worship and Panchākṣarī-japa are traditional means to receive that same grace and inner bliss.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is devotion with discernment: daily Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, offered with the intent of receiving Śiva’s guidance and attaining paramānanda through His anugraha.