Shloka 20

पिप्पलादावतारकथनम्

Account of the Pippalāda Avatāra

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा तत्र मुनिं शक्रः सुवर्चान्वितमादरात् । ननाम साञ्जलिर्नम्रः सगुरुः सामरश्च तम्

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā tatra muniṃ śakraḥ suvarcānvitamādarāt | nanāma sāñjalirnamraḥ saguruḥ sāmaraśca tam

Translation

Als Śakra (Indra) dort den Weisen erblickte, der in geistigem Glanz erstrahlte, trat er ehrfürchtig heran. Mit gefalteten Händen und in Demut verneigte er sich vor ihm—zusammen mit seinem Lehrer und der Schar der Götter.

Word by Word

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• munim: the sage
• munim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• śakraḥ: Śakra (Indra)
• śakraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• suvarcā-anvitam: accompanied by Suvarcā
• suvarcā-anvitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: suvarcā (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √i with anu-)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative): ‘सुवर्चया अन्वितम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (agreeing with munim by sense; formally with implied ‘munim’ as object-description)

• ādarāt: out of respect
• ādarāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी एकवचन (ablative singular; ‘out of respect’)

• nanāma: bowed
• nanāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• sa-añjaliḥ: with joined palms
• sa-añjaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सह-तत्पुरुष: ‘अञ्जलिना सह/युक्तः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• namraḥ: humble
• namraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: namra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• sa-guruḥ: together with (his) guru
• sa-guruḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक) + guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सह-तत्पुरुष: ‘गुरुणा सह’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• sa-āmaraḥ: along with the immortals (gods)
• sa-āmaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक) + amara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सह-तत्पुरुष: ‘अमरैः सह’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Śiva Purāṇa account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Muni (sage)
• Devas (Amaras)
• Guru (preceptor)

FAQs

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

It highlights deva-vinaya—even Indra honors tapas and jñāna by bowing to a radiant muni—showing that spiritual authority arises from realization and devotion to Pati (Śiva), not from worldly rank.

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

The posture of sāñjali and namratā mirrors proper approach to Saguna Śiva in Liṅga-worship: reverent entry, inner humility, and honoring those who embody Śiva-bhakti and Śiva-tejas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice respectful pranāma with joined palms before Śiva, the Liṅga, and Śiva-bhaktas; cultivate humility as a daily sādhana alongside mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined conduct.