Shloka 63

Vaiśyanātha-avatāra-kathā

The Account of Śiva’s Manifestation as Vaiśyanātha

Devanagari script

वैश्यनाथावतारस्ते वर्णितः परमो मया । महानन्दासुखकरो भक्तानन्दप्रदस्सदा

Transliteration

vaiśyanāthāvatāraste varṇitaḥ paramo mayā | mahānandāsukhakaro bhaktānandapradassadā

Translation

至此，我已宣说了名为毗舍耶那他（Vaiśyanātha）之化身的至上事迹。他赐予广大安乐与喜悦，并恒常施与其奉者欢欣。

Word by Word

• वैश्यनाथावतारः: the incarnation of Vaiśyanātha
• वैश्यनाथावतारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य + नाथ + अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): वैश्यस्य नाथः → वैश्यनाथः; वैश्यनाथस्य अवतारः → वैश्यनाथावतारः

• ते: to you / you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) वा चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• वर्णितः: has been described
• वर्णितः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ण् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग-सूचकः

• परमः: supreme
• परमः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• महानन्दासुखकरः: causing great bliss and happiness
• महानन्दासुखकरः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महानन्द + सुख + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: महानन्दं च सुखं च (as objects) करोति इति (agentive)

• भक्तानन्दप्रदः: giver of joy to devotees
• भक्तानन्दप्रदः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त + आनन्द + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: भक्तानां आनन्दं प्रददाति इति

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, consistent with Purāṇic discourse style in this section)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Vaidyanātha

Sthala Purana: ‘Vaiśyanātha’ here is best read as Vaidyanātha/Vaiḍyanātha: Śiva as the divine physician who removes the devotee’s existential affliction (bhava-roga) and grants ānanda; the Purāṇic sthala-traditions commonly connect the site with healing and liberation-bestowing worship.

Significance: Pilgrimage and worship are sought for healing (physical and spiritual), relief from afflictions, and Śiva’s grace culminating in well-being and auspiciousness.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes Shiva’s compassionate, saguna (personal) presence as an avatāra who directly confers ānanda (divine bliss) to devotees—showing that liberation-oriented happiness arises through His grace and loving devotion.

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

By praising an avatāra who ‘always grants devotees joy,’ the text supports saguna worship—approaching Shiva through name, form, and sacred remembrance (including Linga worship) as a means to receive His grace and inner bliss.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady bhakti with japa of the Panchakshara mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and daily Shiva-smaraṇa (remembrance), offered with simple devotion—aimed at cultivating the ‘mahānanda’ praised in the verse.