Shloka 10

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

न भजन्ति महादेवीं करुणारससागराम् । अन्धकूपे पतन्त्येते घोरे संसाररूपिणि

Transliteration

na bhajanti mahādevīṃ karuṇārasasāgarām | andhakūpe patantyete ghore saṃsārarūpiṇi

Translation

Wer Mahādevī nicht verehrt—sie, die ein Ozean des Nektars des Mitgefühls ist—stürzt in einen blinden Brunnen, in den schrecklichen Saṁsāra, der die Gestalt von Fesselung annimmt.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• भजन्ति: worship/serve
• भजन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• महादेवीम्: the Great Goddess
• महादेवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• करुणा-रस-सागराम्: (her who is) an ocean of compassion
• करुणा-रस-सागराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुणा (प्रातिपदिक) + रस (प्रातिपदिक) + सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारयार्थः — ‘करुणारसस्य सागरः’ (ocean of compassion-essence)

• अन्ध-कूपे: in a dark well
• अन्ध-कूपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + कूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः — ‘अन्धः कूपः’ (dark well)

• पतन्ति: fall
• पतन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• एते: these (people)
• एते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• घोरे: terrible
• घोरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• संसार-रूपिणि: in (that) which is of the nature of worldly existence
• संसार-रूपिणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः — ‘संसाररूपः’ (having the form of saṃsāra)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching of the Umāsaṃhitā to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Mahadevi
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse warns that neglecting devotion to Mahādevī (Śiva’s Śakti and grace) leads to falling into the darkness of saṁsāra—ignorance, repeated birth, and bondage. In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, her karuṇā (compassionate grace) is a saving power that helps the soul (paśu) loosen its fetters (pāśa) and turn toward the Lord (Pati).

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

In the Shiva Purana, Saguna worship is often presented as inseparable: Śiva is worshiped with Śakti. Honoring Mahādevī supports true Linga-bhakti by cultivating surrender, purity, and receptivity to grace—without which worship can remain external and the soul stays trapped in saṁsāra.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Shiva–Shakti bhakti: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with reverence to Mahādevī, along with simple pūjā (lamp, water, flowers) and heartfelt prayer for karuṇā (grace) to overcome ignorance.