Shloka 17

पिप्पलादावतारकथनम्

Account of the Pippalāda Avatāra

Devanagari script

महामुनिर्दधीचिर्यस्स तपस्वी जितेन्द्रियः । लेभे शिवं समाराध्य वज्रास्थित्ववरम्पुरा

Transliteration

mahāmunirdadhīciryassa tapasvī jitendriyaḥ | lebhe śivaṃ samārādhya vajrāsthitvavarampurā

Translation

Jener große Weise Dadhīci – ein Asket, der seine Sinne bezwungen hatte – erlangte einst durch hingebungsvolle Verehrung Shivas eine Gnade: die diamantene Festigkeit seiner Knochen, gleich einem Donnerkeil.

Word by Word

• mahā-muniḥ: the great sage
• mahā-muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: महान् मुनिः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dadhīciḥ: Dadhīci
• dadhīciḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dadhīci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (ऋषिनाम)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (relative pronoun)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (correlative)

• tapasvī: austerity-practicing
• tapasvī: Kartṛviśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (ascetic)

• jita-indriyaḥ: self-controlled
• jita-indriyaḥ: Kartṛviśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √ji) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: जितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य (one whose senses are conquered); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• lebhe: obtained
• lebhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sam-ārādhya: having worshipped/propitiated
• sam-ārādhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√rādh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): समाराध्य (having propitiated/worshipped); उपसर्ग: सम्-आ-

• vajra-asthitva-varam: the boon of adamantine firmness
• vajra-asthitva-varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + asthitva (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: वज्रस्य इव अस्थित्वम् (adamantine firmness) तस्य वरम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (formerly/once)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse recalls Śiva’s grace to Dadhīci: by intense ārādhana he receives the boon of vajra-like bones, enabling the devas’ later victory—an archetype of anugraha empowering dharma.

Significance: Model of tapas + Śiva-bhakti yielding grace that benefits the world (loka-saṅgraha).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Dadhichi

FAQs

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

It teaches that steadfast tapas (austerity) and mastery over the senses, when offered as sincere devotion to Pati (Lord Shiva), becomes a channel for Shiva’s grace—bestowing extraordinary strength and spiritual merit.

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

The verse highlights samārādhana—personal, devoted propitiation of Saguna Shiva, commonly performed through Linga-worship with mantra, purity, and disciplined living, leading to tangible blessings and inner transformation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined Shiva-upāsanā: japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), observance of self-restraint (jitendriyatā), and regular worship—often supported by bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to remembrance.