Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

एवन्दत्त्वा महादेवः कराभ्यामुपगृह्य तम् । मूर्ध्न्याघ्राय सुतस्तेऽयमिति देव्यै न्यवेदयत्

Transliteration

evandattvā mahādevaḥ karābhyāmupagṛhya tam | mūrdhnyāghrāya sutaste'yamiti devyai nyavedayat

Translation

So hatte Mahādeva ihn gewährt, nahm das Kind mit beiden Händen auf; liebevoll roch Er am Scheitel seines Hauptes und verkündete der Göttin: „Dies ist dein Sohn.“

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: thus)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having given’

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; कर्मधारय: महान् देवः

• कराभ्याम्: with (his) two hands
• कराभ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), द्विवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

• उपगृह्य: having taken hold of; embracing
• उपगृह्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having taken/embraced’

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative, Singular

• आघ्राय: having smelled (sniffed)
• आघ्राय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-घ्रा (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having smelled’

• सुतः: son
• सुतः: Pratijñā/Viśeṣya (प्रत्यय/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन — Genitive, Singular (enclitic)

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Pratijñā/Viśeṣya (प्रत्यय/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इति: thus; saying
• इति: Vākyārtha-marker (वाक्यार्थसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्ति-बोधक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• देव्यै: to the Goddess
• देव्यै: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन — Feminine, Dative, Singular

• न्यवेदयत्: informed; reported
• न्यवेदयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-विद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Imperfect, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace): the Supreme Lord, though transcendent, lovingly accepts relational roles to bless devotees and establish dharmic order through divine compassion.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—God with attributes—who is approachable and affectionate. Such narratives support personal devotion (bhakti) alongside Linga-worship, showing the same Lord manifesting intimacy for devotees’ upliftment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple bhakti takeaway: meditate on Śiva’s compassionate form and repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating surrender to His grace (anugraha) as the source of protection and spiritual growth.