Shloka 63

नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा

The Account of Śambhu’s Incarnation that Dispels Doubts Concerning Women

Devanagari script

अथ सा विप्रवनिता ज्ञात्वा तं शंकरम्प्रभुम् । सुप्रणम्य हि तुष्टाव प्रेम्णा गद्गदया गिरा

Transliteration

atha sā vipravanitā jñātvā taṃ śaṃkaramprabhum | supraṇamya hi tuṣṭāva premṇā gadgadayā girā

Translation

پھر اس برہمن عورت نے انہیں شنکر، پرم پربھو جان کر، ادب سے سجدۂ تعظیم کیا اور محبت سے گدگد آواز میں ان کی ستوتی کی۔

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (then)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• विप्रवनिता: the brahmin woman
• विप्रवनिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + वनिता (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विप्रस्य वनिता)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known/recognized
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• प्रभुम्: the lord
• प्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; शंकरम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणवत् (appositional)

• सुप्रणम्य: having bowed well
• सुप्रणम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सु + प्र + नम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; उपसर्गयुक्त

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

• तुष्टाव: praised
• तुष्टाव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• प्रेम्णा: with love
• प्रेम्णा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• गद्गदया: with a faltering (choked)
• गद्गदया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गद्गद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (गिरा)

• गिरा: voice/speech
• गिरा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it illustrates recognition (pratyabhijñā-like ‘jñātvā’) and bhakti-response to Śiva’s self-manifestation.

Significance: Models the pilgrim’s inner act: recognizing the Lord (jñāna) and responding with praṇāma and stuti (bhakti), considered a direct means to receive grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights recognition (jñāna) ripening into devotion (bhakti): when the soul perceives Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord), spontaneous surrender and loving praise arise—an opening for Śiva’s anugraha (grace) that loosens pāśa (bondage).

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

It exemplifies Saguna-upāsanā: the devotee identifies the accessible, gracious Lord (Śaṅkara) and responds with namaskāra and stuti. In Linga worship too, inner recognition of the Lord’s presence is primary, and outward reverence expresses that realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is praṇāma (prostration) followed by stotra-pāṭha with one-pointed love; it pairs naturally with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a devotional practice to steady the mind and invite Śiva’s grace.