Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

अथ द्रौणिरिदं विश्वं कृत्स्नं कर्तुमपाण्डवम् । उत्तरागर्भगं बालं नाशितुम्मन आदधे

Transliteration

atha drauṇiridaṃ viśvaṃ kṛtsnaṃ kartumapāṇḍavam | uttarāgarbhagaṃ bālaṃ nāśitummana ādadhe

Translation

Dann fasste Droṇas Sohn (Aśvatthāmā) den Entschluss, die ganze Welt der Pāṇḍavas zu berauben und das Kind zu vernichten, das im Schoß Uttarās weilte.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequence/then)

• द्रौणिः: Drauṇi (son of Droṇa)
• द्रौणिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) विश्वम्

• विश्वम्: world/all (here: all)
• विश्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कृत्स्नम्: entire/whole
• कृत्स्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण विश्वम्

• कर्तुम्: to make/to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive) ‘to do/make’

• अपाण्डवम्: without the Pāṇḍavas / non-Pāṇḍava
• अपाण्डवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (उपसर्ग/निषेध) + पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण विश्वम्; नञ्-समासभाव (negating prefix) ‘non-Pāṇḍava’

• उत्तरागर्भगम्: in Uttarā’s womb
• उत्तरागर्भगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तरā (प्रातिपदिक) + गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘उत्तरायाः गर्भे गः’ = ‘gone into/located in Uttarā’s womb’; विशेषण बालम्

• बालम्: the child
• बालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• नाशितुम्: to destroy
• नाशितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु) (णिच् causative: नाशयति)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive) causative-sense ‘to destroy’

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Vedic/epic usage; object of ‘set (his) mind’)

• आदधे: set/placed (his mind)
• आदधे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘placed/settled (his mind)’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Aśvatthāman
• Droṇa
• Pāṇḍavas
• Uttarā

FAQs

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

It highlights how a mind seized by hatred seeks to annihilate dharma at its root—even the unborn—showing the Shaiva emphasis that inner intention (bhāva) shapes karma and binds the soul (paśu) through pasha (bondage).

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

In Shaiva thought, Saguna Shiva is invoked as the compassionate protector who restores dharma when it is threatened; this verse sets the narrative tension where divine protection and grace counteract adharma-driven violence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) for pacifying destructive impulses, along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as reminders of restraint, purity, and surrender to Shiva’s guidance.