Shloka 23

रावणस्य तपः-शिवानुग्रहः — Rāvaṇa’s Austerity and Śiva’s Bestowal of Grace

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा सकला देवाश्शक्राद्या मुनयस्तथा । परस्परं समामन्त्र्य शिवासक्तधियोऽमलाः

Transliteration

tacchrutvā sakalā devāśśakrādyā munayastathā | parasparaṃ samāmantrya śivāsaktadhiyo'malāḥ

Translation

Hearing that, all the gods—beginning with Śakra (Indra)—and the sages as well, with minds made pure through devotion to Śiva, consulted one another and took counsel together.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; pronoun used adverbially = 'that (event)'

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), 'having heard'

• sakalāḥ: all
• sakalāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agrees with devāḥ/munayaḥ

• devāḥ: gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• śakra-ādyāḥ: beginning with Indra
• śakra-ādyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; ādi-śabda: 'beginning with' (आदि-प्रयोग)

• munayaḥ: sages
• munayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; particle/adverb (निपात/क्रियाविशेषण) = 'also/likewise'

• parasparam: mutually
• parasparam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paraspara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Reciprocal indeclinable used adverbially (परस्परम्)

• samāmantrya: having consulted
• samāmantrya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-mantr (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), 'having consulted/invited'

• śiva-āsakta-dhiyaḥ: whose minds were devoted to Śiva
• śiva-āsakta-dhiyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + āsakta (कृदन्त; आसञ्ज्/सञ्ज् + क्त) + dhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; बहुव्रीहि: 'those whose minds are attached to Śiva'

• amalāḥ: pure
• amalāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agrees with devāḥ/munayaḥ

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Vaidyanatha

Sthala Purana: News of the liṅga’s establishment prompts devas and munis to deliberate; the shrine’s emergence affects cosmic polity, drawing divine attention and coordinated response—typical of Jyotirliṅga narratives where a new locus of light reorganizes sacred geography.

Significance: The verse models saṅgha-bhāva: even exalted beings seek counsel around Śiva-bhakti, implying that pilgrimage and worship are supported by collective dharmic intention.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra (Shakra)
• Devas
• Munis (Sages)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that even devas and sages turn to collective discernment only after anchoring their minds in Śiva; in a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, purity (amala) and right understanding arise when the intellect is oriented to Pati (Śiva), not merely to worldly power.

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

Their Shiva-attached minds indicate Saguna-upāsanā—devotional focus on Śiva’s gracious, approachable form (often through the Liṅga). Such devotion purifies intention so decisions and actions align with dharma and Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to purify the mind before action: repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with steady attention, and, where traditional, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder to keep the intellect śivāsakta (fixed in Śiva).