Shloka 17

Droṇācārya’s Tapas and the Manifestation of Śiva: The Birth-Grant of Aśvatthāmā (अश्वत्थामा-अवतार-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

यद्भयात्पाण्डवास्सर्वे कौरवाञ्जेतुमक्षमाः । आसन्नष्टामहावीरा अपि सर्वे च कोविदाः

Transliteration

yadbhayātpāṇḍavāssarve kauravāñjetumakṣamāḥ | āsannaṣṭāmahāvīrā api sarve ca kovidāḥ

Translation

Aus Furcht vor ihm waren alle Pāṇḍavas außerstande, die Kauravas zu besiegen; obgleich sie große Helden, kundig und einsichtig waren, wurden sie dennoch ins Verderben geführt.

Word by Word

• यत्: whose / of whom
• यत्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• भयात्: from fear
• भयात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (ablative), एकवचनम्

• पाण्डवाः: the Pandavas
• पाण्डवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying पाण्डवाः)

• कौरवान्: the Kauravas
• कौरवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• जेतुम्: to conquer
• जेतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to conquer’

• अक्षमाः: unable
• अक्षमाः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षम (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + क्षम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying पाण्डवाः)

• आसन्: were
• आसन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्

• अष्ट: eight
• अष्ट: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषणम् (numeral adjective), अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; here qualifying महावीराः

• महावीराः: great heroes
• महावीराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महावीर (प्रातिपदिक; महा+वीर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; apposition to पाण्डवाः

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), ‘even/also’

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying implied subject)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• कोविदाः: skilled / wise
• कोविदाः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (skilled/wise)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: Fear (bhaya) and incapacity (akṣamatā) are read as effects of tirodhāna—Śiva’s concealing power operating through kāla and karma; Mahākāla-kṣetra emphasizes liberation from such fear by recognizing Śiva as the inner ruler of time.

Significance: Removal of mṛtyu-bhaya and karmic dread; steadiness of mind in adversity; turning fear into Śiva-smaraṇa.

Characters & Entities

• Pandavas
• Kauravas

FAQs

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

It highlights that mere valor and skill cannot prevail when one is bound by fear and karmic limitation; in Shaiva Siddhanta, true fearlessness arises by taking refuge in Pati (Shiva), the Lord who loosens pasha (bondage) and steadies the soul.

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

The verse underscores human insufficiency against overpowering forces; worship of Saguna Shiva in the Linga is taught as a concrete refuge that grants inner stability, cuts fear at its root, and aligns action with Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate fearlessness through japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as supports, offering the mind’s anxiety into Shiva and acting from dharma rather than fear.