Shloka 75

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

निर्विकारादि साकारा निराकारापि देव्युमा । देवानां तापनाशार्थं प्रादुरासीद्युगेयुगे

Transliteration

nirvikārādi sākārā nirākārāpi devyumā | devānāṃ tāpanāśārthaṃ prādurāsīdyugeyuge

Translation

الإلهة أُما—أزلية لا يعتريها تبدّل—وإن كانت في الحقيقة بلا صورة، فإنها تتخذ صورة ظاهرة. وفي كل عصر بعد عصر تتجلّى لرفع آلام الدِّيفات (الآلهة).

Word by Word

• निर्विकारादि: beginning with the unchanging (attributes)
• निर्विकारादि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्विकार + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• साकारा: having form
• साकारा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• निराकारā: formless
• निराकारā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अपि: also/though
• अपि: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उमा: Umā
• उमा: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवी-नाम (proper noun)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• तापनाशार्थम्: for the purpose of destroying affliction
• तापनाशार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताप + नाश + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक (purpose)

• प्रादुरासीत्: appeared/manifested
• प्रादुरासीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आदुर् + अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• युगे: in (each) age
• युगे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• युगे: in age after age
• युगे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (reduplication)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma-saṃhitā discourse to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General doctrine of Devī’s periodic manifestation to relieve devas’ distress; not tied to a single shrine narrative.

Significance: Supports Devī-upāsanā within Śaiva devotion: approaching Umā as compassionate power that removes ‘tāpa’ (affliction) and restores dharma.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Yuga-cycle theophany (yuge yuge prādurbhāva)

Characters & Entities

• Uma
• Parvati
• Devas

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme Shakti (Umā) is essentially nirākāra (formless) and nirvikāra (unchanging), yet compassionately adopts a sā-kāra (manifest) mode to relieve cosmic suffering—showing divine grace operating within time while remaining beyond it.

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

Just as Shiva is adored through the Liṅga as a compassionate, accessible support for meditation, Umā too—though ultimately beyond form—becomes worship-worthy in manifest forms. The verse supports saguna-upāsanā (devotional worship with form) as a valid doorway to the formless reality of Shiva-Shakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Umā as both nirākāra and sākāra while doing japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and offering simple pūjā to Shiva-Shakti (e.g., bilva leaves to Shiva, respectful devotion to the Mother), praying for the removal of inner ‘tāpa’—restlessness, fear, and karmic distress.