Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । गिरिजायाश्च साकूतं वचः श्रुत्वा महेश्वरः । कृतघ्नं रावणं मत्वा शशाप बलदर्पितम्

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | girijāyāśca sākūtaṃ vacaḥ śrutvā maheśvaraḥ | kṛtaghnaṃ rāvaṇaṃ matvā śaśāpa baladarpitam

Translation

Sūta said: Having heard Girijā’s pointed and meaningful words, Mahēśvara—judging Rāvaṇa to be ungrateful and intoxicated with the pride of strength—pronounced a curse upon him.

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• गिरिजायाः: of Girijā
• गिरिजायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• साकूतम्: with intention/meaningful
• साकूतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साकूत (प्रातिपदिक: स + आकूत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘वचः’)

• वचः: words/speech
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having heard’

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक: महा + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृतघ्नम्: ungrateful
• कृतघ्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतघ्न (प्रातिपदिक: कृत + घ्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘रावणम्’)

• रावणम्: Rāvaṇa
• रावणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• मत्वा: considering
• मत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having considered/thinking’

• शशाप: cursed
• शशाप: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• बलदर्पितम्: puffed up with strength
• बलदर्पितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलदर्पित (प्रातिपदिक: बल + दर्पित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त (PPP) ‘made proud by strength’; विशेषण (qualifying ‘रावणम्’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Ravana

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shaiva ethics: when power is joined to ego and ingratitude, it becomes a binding pasha (bond). Shiva, as Pati (the Lord), corrects adharmic pride so the soul may be turned back toward humility and bhakti.

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

Saguna Shiva is shown as Maheshvara who actively protects dharma and disciplines arrogance. Linga-worship is not merely ritual; it is meant to dissolve ahankara (ego) and cultivate grateful devotion, the inner purpose behind pilgrimage and Jyotirlinga reverence in the Kotirudra Samhita.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is humility in japa—repeat the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while reflecting on gratitude and surrender; optionally wear rudraksha and apply tripuṇḍra bhasma as reminders to restrain pride and align strength with devotion.