Shloka 11

Anasūyā–Atri Tapas-Varṇana

Description of Anasūyā and Atri’s Austerities

Devanagari script

आर्द्रीभावो न लभ्येत खरा वाता दिशो दश । हाहाकारो महानासीत्पृथिव्यां दुःखदोऽति हि

Transliteration

ārdrībhāvo na labhyeta kharā vātā diśo daśa | hāhākāro mahānāsītpṛthivyāṃ duḥkhado'ti hi

Translation

No moisture could be found anywhere; harsh winds blew from all ten directions. A great cry of distress arose upon the earth, exceedingly painful to all beings.

Word by Word

• आर्द्रीभावः: moistness, humidity
• आर्द्रीभावः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्द्रीभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: आर्द्री + भावः (state of moisture)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• लभ्येत: would be found/obtained
• लभ्येत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense): ‘would be obtained’

• खराः: harsh
• खराः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; qualifies ‘वाताः’

• वाताः: winds
• वाताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• दिशः: directions
• दिशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• दश: ten
• दश: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्/दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्द; here used as numeral adjective qualifying ‘दिशः’ (ten)

• हाहाकारः: cry of distress
• हाहाकारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हाहाकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महान्: great
• महान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies ‘हाहाकारः’

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पृथिव्याम्: on the earth
• पृथिव्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• दुःखदः: pain-giving
• दुःखदः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: दुःखं ददाति इति; qualifies ‘हाहाकारः’

• अति: exceedingly
• अति: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (अव्यय)
• Form: अत्यर्थक-अव्यय (intensifier adverb)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: saṃvarta-like drought and distress; world-conditions resembling pralaya

FAQs

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

It portrays a world cut off from life-sustaining balance—an outer sign of inner disorder—implying that refuge in Pati (Lord Shiva) restores harmony and alleviates collective suffering.

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

In the Kotirudrasaṃhitā context, such calamity sets the stage for turning toward Shiva’s Saguna grace through Jyotirlinga devotion, where the Linga is approached as the compassionate, stabilizing presence of Pati in the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to intensify Shiva-upāsanā—Pañcākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-abhisheka with water when available, and wearing Rudrākṣa with Tripuṇḍra as a vow of steadiness amid distress.