Shloka 1

Sunartaka-Naṭa Avatāra and Pārvatī’s Boon-Request (Śiva as the Testing Benefactor)

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । सनत्कुमार सर्वज्ञ शिवस्य परमात्मनः । अवतारं शृणु विभोस्सुनर्तकनटाह्वयम्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | sanatkumāra sarvajña śivasya paramātmanaḥ | avatāraṃ śṛṇu vibhossunartakanaṭāhvayam

Translation

نندییشور نے کہا—اے سَنَتکُمار، اے سب کچھ جاننے والے! پرماتما شِو کے اُس اوتار کو سنو، جو ہمہ گیر پربھو ‘سُنرتک’ یعنی الٰہی رقّاص کے نام سے مشہور ہے۔

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; समासः—नन्दिन्+ईश्वर (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/‘नन्देः ईश्वरः’)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• सनत्कुमार: O Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमार: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—सनत्+कुमार (कर्मधारय: ‘सनत् कुमारः’)

• सर्वज्ञ: O omniscient one
• सर्वज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘सर्वं जानाति’ इति

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• परमात्मनः: of the Supreme Self
• परमात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; समासः—परम+आत्मन् (कर्मधारय: ‘परमः आत्मा’)

• अवतारम्: incarnation/descent
• अवतारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• शृणु: hear/listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• विभोः: of the Lord
• विभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• सु-नर्तक-नट-आह्वयम्: named ‘Sunartaka-naṭa’ (the excellent dancer-actor)
• सु-नर्तक-नट-आह्वयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + नर्तक (प्रातिपदिक) + नट (प्रातिपदिक) + आह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—(सु)विशेषणपूर्वपद + नर्तकनट (कर्मधारय/द्वन्द्वभाव) + आह्वय (तत्पुरुष: ‘नर्तकनट-आह्वयः’ = named as dancer-actor)

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Introduces an avatāra narrative of Śiva as ‘Sunartaka-Naṭa’ (divine dancer). While Naṭarāja is famously linked to Cidambaram, this verse itself is an avatāra-introduction rather than a Jyotirliṅga origin.

Significance: Meditation on the cosmic dance aligns the devotee with pañcakṛtya; in Siddhānta, it points to the Lord’s governance and the soul’s eventual release through anugraha after the veiling is removed.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Implied cosmic governance through dance (pañcakṛtya symbolism), though no explicit kalpa/pralaya marker is stated.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sanatkumara
• Nandi

FAQs

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

The verse frames Śiva’s avatāra as a compassionate, purposeful manifestation of the Supreme (Paramātman) within the world—showing how the transcendent Pati (Lord) can also appear in a name-and-form to guide beings toward liberation.

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

By naming Śiva’s descent as “Sunartaka-Naṭa,” the text emphasizes Saguna worship—approaching the formless Supreme through a sacred form and līlā. Such narratives support devotion to Śiva in manifest aspects (including the Liṅga as a primary, aniconic Saguna focus).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate practice implied is śravaṇa (devotional listening) to Śiva-kathā as a purifier of mind; this is traditionally paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative remembrance of Śiva as the all-pervading Lord.