Shloka 27

Vārāṇasī (Avimukta) Māhātmya and the Catalogue of Guhya-Tīrthas

Devanagari script

तत्क्षणे सा महादेवी शङ्करार्धशरीरिणी / प्रादुरासीत् स्वयं प्रीत्या वेषं कृत्वा तु मानुषम्

Transliteration

tatkṣaṇe sā mahādevī śaṅkarārdhaśarīriṇī / prādurāsīt svayaṃ prītyā veṣaṃ kṛtvā tu mānuṣam

Translation

اسی لمحے، عظیم دیوی—جو شنکر کے نصف جسم کے طور پر ان کے ساتھ ہیں—خوشی سے انسانی بھیس بدل کر خود ظاہر ہوئیں۔

Word by Word

• तत्क्षणे: at that moment
• तत्क्षणे: अधिकरण (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्-क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (locative), एकवचन; समयाधिकरणम् (at that moment)

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

• महादेवी: the great goddess
• महादेवी: कर्ता (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘महती देवी’

• शङ्करार्धशरीरिणी: having half of Śaṅkara’s body
• शङ्करार्धशरीरिणी: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘सा/महादेवी’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्कर-अर्ध-शरीरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘शङ्करस्य अर्धं शरीरं यस्याः’ (having half of Śaṅkara as her body)

• प्रादुरासीत्: appeared
• प्रादुरासीत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रादुर् + अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘प्रादुर्’ उपसर्गवत् (appeared)

• स्वयम्: herself
• स्वयम्: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis/agentive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (reflexive adverb)

• प्रीत्या: out of affection, gladly
• प्रीत्या: करण/हेतु (Cause/Manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेतौ/भावे (instrumental of cause/manner)

• वेषम्: disguise, attire
• वेषम्: कर्म (Object of ‘कृत्वा’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made/assuming
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• तु: indeed, and
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• मानुषम्: human
• मानुषम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘वेषम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘वेषम्’ विशेषणम् (accusative singular masc.)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration traditionally attributed to Vyāsa’s discourse lineage)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Mahādevī
• Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• Ardhanārīśvara (concept)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

By presenting the Goddess as inseparable from Śaṅkara (one shared body), the verse points to a non-severed divine reality—consciousness and power (Śiva–Śakti) functioning as one principle rather than two competing absolutes.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is prescribed in this line; instead it emphasizes the yogic principle of īśvara-anugraha (divine grace): realization and guidance arise when the deity “manifests,” often understood as the fruition of devotion, purity, and disciplined practice aligned with Śaiva-Pāśupata ideals.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

While Viṣṇu is not named here, the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis frames sectarian forms as expressions of one supreme reality; this verse supports that integrative approach by portraying divinity as intrinsically unified (Śiva with Śakti), a model the text often extends to Śiva–Viṣṇu harmony.