Shloka 57

Śumbha–Niśumbha-pīḍā and Devastuti to Durgā/Śivā

Names and Forms of the Devī

Devanagari script

वृणीष्व तं पतिं वामे लोकपालादिभिः स्तुतम् । प्रपत्स्यसे महानंदं देवानामपि दुर्लभम्

Transliteration

vṛṇīṣva taṃ patiṃ vāme lokapālādibhiḥ stutam | prapatsyase mahānaṃdaṃ devānāmapi durlabham

Translation

O Sanfte, wähle jenen Herrn zum Gemahl—ihn, den die Lokapālas und die übrigen Götter preisen. Wenn du bei ihm Zuflucht nimmst, wirst du die große Seligkeit erlangen, die selbst den Devas schwer erreichbar ist.

Word by Word

• vṛṇīṣva: choose
• vṛṇīṣva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imp.), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन (sg.), आत्मनेपद

• tam: that (one)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• patim: husband / lord
• patim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• vāme: O fair one / O lovely lady
• vāme: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.)/पुंलिङ्ग (m.) (context: address), सम्बोधन (Voc. 8), एकवचन (sg.)

• loka-pāla-ādibhiḥ: by the world-guardians and others
• loka-pāla-ādibhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka-pāla (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया (Instr. 3), बहुवचन (pl.); तत्पुरुषः: लोकपालाः आदयः येषां तैः = by the guardians of the worlds etc.

• stutam: praised
• stutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √stu (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); tam patiṃ viśeṣayati

• prapatsyase: you will attain
• prapatsyase: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√pad (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Fut.), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन (sg.), आत्मनेपद

• mahā-ānandam: great bliss
• mahā-ānandam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); कर्मधारयः: महान् आनन्दः

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Gen. 6), बहुवचन (pl.)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/बल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• durlabham: hard to obtain
• durlabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur-labha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); उपसर्ग-तत्पुरुषः: दुर्लभ = hard to obtain

Speaker

A divine counselor (Devas/elders) addressing Parvati (Uma) in the Uma Samhita narrative

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Lokapalas
• Devas
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that choosing Shiva—the supreme Pati—and surrendering to Him leads to mahānanda (liberating bliss), a state surpassing even the pleasures attainable by the devas.

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

It points to Saguna Shiva as the praiseworthy Lord adored by cosmic rulers (Lokapālas); devotion, reverence, and śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) in Shiva—often expressed through Linga worship—becomes the means to the highest bliss.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is śaraṇāgati to Shiva supported by bhakti practices such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady worship of Shiva (e.g., Linga-pūjā), aiming at inner mahānanda rather than worldly boons.