Shloka 20

Śatarudrīya-prabhāva and Rudra’s Supremacy (शतरुद्रीयप्रभावः)

Devanagari script

दृष्टवा महर्षय: सर्वे शिरोभिरवरनिं गता:

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā maharṣayaḥ sarve śirobhir avaranim gatāḥ

Translation

Nārada said: Having seen it, all the great seers bowed their heads and lowered themselves in reverence—an outward sign of humility and recognition of a higher spiritual authority.

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा, कर्तरि, पूर्वकाल (absolutive/gerund)

• महर्षयः: the great sages
• महर्षयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शिरोभिः: with (their) heads
• शिरोभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अवरतिं: bowing down / obeisance
• अवरतिं: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवरति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• गताः: went; assumed (a state)
• गताः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: क्त, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• maharṣis (great sages)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights humility and reverence as marks of dharmic character: even exalted sages respond to spiritual greatness by bowing, showing that true wisdom expresses itself through modest conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada narrates that, upon witnessing a significant person or event, all the assembled great seers collectively lower their heads in respect, indicating acknowledgment and veneration.