Shloka 16

देवसान्त्वनम् (Devasāntvana) — “Consolation/Reassurance of the Gods”

Devanagari script

न हि जातम्प्रपूर्णं तद्देवकार्यं महेश्वरि । व्याकुला मुनयो देवाश्शरणन्त्वां गता वयम्

Transliteration

na hi jātamprapūrṇaṃ taddevakāryaṃ maheśvari | vyākulā munayo devāśśaraṇantvāṃ gatā vayam

Translation

O Maheśvarī, jenes göttliche Werk ist noch nicht zur Vollendung gebracht. In Bedrängnis sind wir—zusammen mit den Weisen und den Göttern—zu dir gekommen, um Zuflucht zu suchen.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• जातम्: has occurred
• जातम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here predicate: 'has happened/come about'

• प्रपूर्णम्: fully accomplished
• प्रपूर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Vishaya (विषय/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देवकार्यं: the gods’ task
• देवकार्यं: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: देवानां कार्यम्

• महेश्वरि: O Maheśvarī
• महेश्वरि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्याकुलाः: distressed
• व्याकुलाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (for munayaḥ/devāḥ)

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गत्यर्थक-क्रियायां कर्म

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग/सामान्य, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गताः: have gone
• गताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP) पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'having gone' (predicate with munayaḥ/devāḥ)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

The gods (Devas), speaking to Goddess Pārvatī (Maheśvarī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Devas
• Munis

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): when even devas and sages are unable to complete a divine mission, they turn to Maheśvarī for grace—showing that success ultimately comes through Shiva–Shakti’s anugraha (bestowing of divine favor).

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

Approaching Maheśvarī for refuge reflects Saguna-upāsanā—devotional reliance on the compassionate, accessible form of the Divine. In Shaiva understanding, the Linga signifies Shiva as Pati, and devotion to Shiva is naturally accompanied by reverence to Shakti, whose grace enables the divine work to be fulfilled.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform śaraṇāgati with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), offering a simple prayer to Shiva–Parvati for removal of obstacles; optionally accompany it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and a calm, steady meditation on divine grace.