Shloka 43

Śiva–Arjuna Yuddha and the Subjugation of Pride (Śiva-parīkṣā)

Devanagari script

नमः किरातरूपाय मदनुग्रहकारिणे । युद्धप्रियाय वीराणां नानालीलानुकारिणे

Transliteration

namaḥ kirātarūpāya madanugrahakāriṇe | yuddhapriyāya vīrāṇāṃ nānālīlānukāriṇe

Translation

Verehrung dem Herrn, der die Gestalt des Kirāta (des göttlichen Jägers) annimmt und mir Gnade erweist; der die gerechte Schlacht liebt; und der um der Tapferen willen mannigfache göttliche Spiele (Līlā) vollführt.

Word by Word

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya-prāya (indeclinable usage/अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग), salutation particle

• kirāta-rūpāya: to (him) of Kirāta-form
• kirāta-rūpāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kirāta (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष), Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Caturthī vibhakti (Dative/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• mat-anugraha-kāriṇe: to the doer of my favor/grace
• mat-anugraha-kāriṇe: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + anugraha (प्रातिपदिक) + kārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष; genitive relation ‘my’), Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Caturthī vibhakti (Dative/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• yuddha-priyāya: to the battle-loving (one)
• yuddha-priyāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष), Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Caturthī vibhakti (Dative/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• vīrāṇām: of heroes
• vīrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• nānā-līlā-anukāriṇe: to the imitator/enactor of various plays (sports)
• nānā-līlā-anukāriṇe: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + līlā (प्रातिपदिक) + anukārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष; multi-member), Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Caturthī vibhakti (Dative/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Śatarudrasaṃhitā hymn to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Kirāṭeśvara motif: Śiva adopts the hunter form to test and then bless the heroic devotee (classically Arjuna), granting divine favor after a dharmic contest.

Significance: Models the Siddhāntic path: the paśu’s effort (vīrya, dharma) is met by Pati’s decisive anugraha; inspires courage and surrender in adversity.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमः किरातरूपाय मदनुग्रहकारिणे । युद्धप्रियाय वीराणां नानालीलानुकारिणे

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse praises Shiva as the compassionate Pati (Lord) who freely grants anugraha (grace) and manifests in accessible, Saguna forms—here, the Kirāta—so devotees and heroic seekers can recognize Him through His līlā and be led toward liberation.

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

The Linga signifies Shiva beyond form (Nirguna) while also being the gateway to His manifest presence; this verse complements Linga worship by honoring a specific Saguna manifestation (Kirāta), teaching that the one Shiva is approached both as the formless Absolute and as the gracious, story-revealed Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-japa and stotra-pāṭha: repeat Shiva’s names (especially with the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating His Kirāta form as the giver of anugraha; offer bilva leaves or vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) in devotion, seeking inner courage and dharma.