Shloka 17
Sunartaka-Naṭa Avatāra and Pārvatī’s Boon-Request (Śiva as the Testing Benefactor)
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शम्भुः सुलीलो भक्तवत्सलः । सुनर्तकनटो भूत्वा मेनकासन्निधिं ययौ
etasminnantare śambhuḥ sulīlo bhaktavatsalaḥ | sunartakanaṭo bhūtvā menakāsannidhiṃ yayau
Trong lúc ấy, Śambhu—đấng vui đùa trong līlā thần diệu và hết lòng thương mến người sùng kính—hóa hiện thành một vũ công–diễn viên tuyệt hảo và đi vào trước mặt Menakā.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Naṭarāja
FAQs
It highlights Śiva as bhakta-vatsala—He freely adopts accessible, saguna forms through līlā to guide beings, showing that divine grace can arrive through ordinary-looking encounters.
Though the Liṅga points to the transcendent (nirguṇa) reality, this verse emphasizes the same Supreme acting as saguna—taking a visible form for devotees—affirming both modes of worship as valid in the Purāṇic vision.
Contemplate Śiva as bhakta-vatsala while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” remembering that His grace may appear through unexpected forms and situations.