Shloka 36

पिप्पलादावतारकथनम्

Account of the Pippalāda Avatāra

Devanagari script

आजगाम पुनस्तत्र पश्यन्ती बह्वशोभनम् । देवांश्च तान्मुनिश्रेष्ठ सुवर्चा विस्मिताभवत्

Transliteration

ājagāma punastatra paśyantī bahvaśobhanam | devāṃśca tānmuniśreṣṭha suvarcā vismitābhavat

Translation

她又来到那里，目睹诸多奇妙景象；见到那些天神时，噢，最胜仙人啊，苏瓦尔查满心惊异。

Word by Word

• आजगाम: came
• आजगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक-अव्यय (adverb: again)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• पश्यन्ती: seeing
• पश्यन्ती: Karta (कर्ता; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बहु-अशोभनम्: very inauspicious/ugly
• बहु-अशोभनम्: Karma (कर्म; object of पश्यन्ती)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + अशोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (बहु अशोभनम्)

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (कर्म; object of पश्यन्ती)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• मुने-श्रेष्ठ: O best of sages
• मुने-श्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Voc. 8), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनां श्रेष्ठ)

• सुवर्चा: Suvarcā
• सुवर्चा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्चा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विस्मिता: astonished
• विस्मिता: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्मि/विस्मि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• अभवत्: became/was
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Suvarcā
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how encountering divine manifestations can awaken vismaya (sacred wonder), a mind-state that softens ego and makes the heart receptive to devotion toward Pati—Lord Shiva—who stands behind all divine powers.

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

Amazement at the devas naturally leads the seeker to the source of their splendor. In Shaiva understanding, Saguna Shiva is worshipped as the supreme Lord whose presence empowers all deities—often approached through Linga worship as the accessible, grace-bestowing form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate reverent attention (smṛti) and devotion: silently repeat the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while contemplating that all divine radiance is upheld by Shiva; offer simple worship (water, bilva) to the Linga with an attitude of awe and surrender.