Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

तदा बभूव सुज्ञानं मेनाशैलेशयोरपि । आवां शिवो वञ्चयित्वा गतवान्स्वालयं विभुः

Transliteration

tadā babhūva sujñānaṃ menāśaileśayorapi | āvāṃ śivo vañcayitvā gatavānsvālayaṃ vibhuḥ

Translation

那时，连梅那与山岳之主也生起了真知：“遍一切处的主湿婆已巧妙地戏弄了我们，回归祂自己的圣居。”

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (काल/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• बभूव: became; came to be
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• सु-ज्ञानम्: good understanding; clear realization
• सु-ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता/subject; ‘good understanding’ arose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्गवत्/अव्यय) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुन्दरं ज्ञानम्)

• मेनाशैलेशयोः: of Menā and Śaileśa (Himālaya)
• मेनाशैलेशयोः: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेना (प्रातिपदिक) + शैलेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री (समाहार-द्वन्द्वे द्वयोः); षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (मेना च शैलेशः च)

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (also/even)

• आवाम्: us two
• आवाम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन; ‘us two’

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वञ्चयित्वा: having deceived
• वञ्चयित्वा: Purvakala-Kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/gerund)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वञ्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभावः; ‘having deceived’

• गतवान्: went
• गतवान्: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त (perfect participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• स्व-आलयम्: to his own abode
• स्व-आलयम्: Karma (कर्म/object; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य आलयः)

• विभुः: the all-pervading Lord
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; शिवस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mena
• Himalaya

FAQs

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

It highlights that Śiva’s līlā can overturn ordinary assumptions and awaken sujñāna (right knowledge): the soul recognizes the Lord’s transcendence and independence (svātantrya) even when His acts seem puzzling.

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

By calling Śiva “Vibhu” who returns to His own abode, the verse points to the Lord as both approachable (Saguna, active in līlā) and transcendent (beyond grasp). Linga worship trains the mind to see this unity of immanence and transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate sujñāna through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady devotion, and reflect that Śiva’s ways are for awakening; maintain daily Śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance) as the practical takeaway.