Shloka 42

उपमन्युकुमारस्य क्षीरार्थ-प्रार्थना तथा शिवप्रसाद-निबन्धनम् | Upamanyu’s Longing for Milk and the Doctrine of Shiva’s Grace

Devanagari script

एवं व्यवसिते विप्रे भगवाञ्छक्ररूपवान् । वारयामास सौम्येन धारणान्तस्य योगिनः

Transliteration

evaṃ vyavasite vipre bhagavāñchakrarūpavān | vārayāmāsa saumyena dhāraṇāntasya yoginaḥ

Translation

O Brahmane, als dieser Entschluss so fest gefasst war, hielt der erhabene Herr—der die Gestalt Śakras (Indras) annahm—den Yogin, der die äußerste Grenze der Dhāraṇā (einspitzige Sammlung) erreicht hatte, sanft zurück.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• व्यवसिते: when (it was) decided/resolved
• व्यवसिते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative setting)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + अव + √सि/√सो (धातु) → व्यवसित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); ‘व्यवसिते (कार्ये)’ = when (it was) resolved/decided

• विप्रे: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्रे: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• शक्र-रूपवान्: having the form of Indra
• शक्र-रूपवान्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (determinative): शक्रस्य रूपम् यस्य सः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) to ‘भगवान्’

• वारयामास: restrained / stopped
• वारयामास: क्रिया (Verb); कर्म-प्रवृत्तिः (action toward object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृ (धातु) [वारयति = causative]
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); causative sense ‘caused to desist/checked’

• सौम्येन: by gentleness / with a mild (means)
• सौम्येन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; साधन (instrument/means)

• धारणान्तस्य: of (one) at the end of dhāraṇā (concentration)
• धारणान्तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धारणान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: धारणायाः अन्तः (end/limit of concentration); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; विशेषण to ‘योगिनः’

• योगिनः: of the yogin
• योगिनः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive possessor/related)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra (Shakra)
• Yogin

FAQs

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

It shows Shiva’s compassionate governance of the yogic path: even at the peak of concentration (dhāraṇā), the seeker is guided by the Lord’s grace so that spiritual power does not become ego or a cause of bondage (pāśa), but turns toward liberation under Pati (Shiva).

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

Shiva appears here in a saguna, assumable form (as Śakra/Indra) to interact with the devotee. This aligns with Shiva Purana’s teaching that the formless (nirguṇa) reality is approached through gracious, perceivable manifestations—like the Liṅga and divine forms—suited to the aspirant’s state.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse highlights disciplined dhāraṇā (one-pointed concentration) guided by humility and restraint. A practical Shaiva takeaway is to support meditation with japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and maintain inner gentleness (saumya-bhāva) so concentration matures into devotion and liberation rather than mere siddhi-seeking.