Shloka 25

शिवस्यार्द्धनारीनरावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Ardhanārī-nara Manifestation

Devanagari script

तामाह प्रहसन्प्रेक्ष्य शक्तिं देववरो हरः । कृपासिन्धुर्महेशानो लीलाकारी भवाम्बिकाम्

Transliteration

tāmāha prahasanprekṣya śaktiṃ devavaro haraḥ | kṛpāsindhurmaheśāno līlākārī bhavāmbikām

Translation

哈罗（众神中最胜者）含笑凝望那位圣力（Śakti），遂开口说道。大自在天摩诃伊舍那，慈悲之海、以利拉（līlā）示现游戏的神圣者，向婆伐安毗迦（Bhavāmbikā，婆伐尼圣母）发言。

Word by Word

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आह: said
• आह: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रहसन्: smiling/laughing
• प्रहसन्: कर्ता-विशेषण (of हरः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + हस् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि

• प्रेक्ष्य: having looked at
• प्रेक्ष्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (ल्यप्/absolutive), अव्ययभाव (having looked)

• शक्तिम्: the power (Śakti)
• शक्तिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• देव-वरः: best of the gods
• देव-वरः: कर्ता-समानााधिकरण (apposition to हरः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘of gods’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (Śiva)

• कृपा-सिन्धुः: ocean of compassion
• कृपा-सिन्धुः: कर्ता-समानााधिकरण (apposition to हरः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक) + सिन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (appositional: ‘ocean that is compassion’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि

• महेशानः: Maheśāna
• महेशानः: कर्ता-समानााधिकरण (apposition to हरः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम/उपाधि

• लीला-कारी: playful; acting in sport
• लीला-कारी: कर्ता-विशेषण (of हरः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद: ‘doing as play’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भव-अम्बिकाम्: Bhavāmbikā (Śiva’s Mother/Goddess)
• भव-अम्बिकाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; addressed/mentioned)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘of Bhava/Śiva’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Hara/Maheshana)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as both the supreme Lord (Pati) and an ocean of compassion, relating to Śakti not as separate but as His own inseparable power—showing that grace and līlā guide beings toward liberation.

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

By portraying Śiva as the personable Lord who speaks and bestows grace, it supports Saguna-upāsanā (devotional worship). In Linga worship, the devotee approaches the same compassionate Mahēśāna who reveals Himself through form while remaining transcendent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva together with Śakti (Ardhanārīśvara-bhāva) and repeat the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—seeking the Lord’s कृपा (grace) as the direct means to purification and steadiness in devotion.