Shloka 19

Anasūyā–Atri Tapas-Varṇana

Description of Anasūyā and Atri’s Austerities

Devanagari script

बद्धाञ्जलिपुटा भूत्वा प्रक्रम्य स्वामिनं शिवम् । दण्डवत्प्रणिपातेन प्रतिप्रक्रमणं तदा

Transliteration

baddhāñjalipuṭā bhūtvā prakramya svāminaṃ śivam | daṇḍavatpraṇipātena pratiprakramaṇaṃ tadā

Translation

Then, with palms joined in reverence, they circumambulated their Lord Śiva; and, offering a full prostration (daṇḍavat), they withdrew and departed in humility.

Word by Word

• बद्ध: bound, joined
• बद्ध: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु) → बद्ध (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे प्रातिपदिकरूपम्; अञ्जलिपुटा-शब्दस्य विशेषणम्

• अञ्जलि-पुटा: folded hands (hand-cup)
• अञ्जलि-पुटा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन/एकवचन? (पाठानुसार: अञ्जलिपुटा = प्रथमा एकवचन स्त्री, ‘she with folded hands’); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अञ्जलेः पुटः)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund); ‘having become’

• प्रक्रम्य: having approached
• प्रक्रम्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund); ‘having approached/stepped forward’

• स्वामिनम्: the lord/master
• स्वामिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; स्वामिनम् इति पदस्य विशेष्य-अपेक्षया समानाधिकरणम्

• दण्डवत्: like a staff; prostrate
• दण्डवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्डवत् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverbial)

• प्रणिपातेन: by prostration
• प्रणिपातेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र-नि-पत् (धातु) → प्रणिपात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• प्रतिप्रक्रमणम्: returning/stepping back (withdrawal)
• प्रतिप्रक्रमणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति-प्र-क्रम् (धातु) → प्रतिप्रक्रमण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्रियाफल/कर्मरूपेण

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Pradakṣiṇā and daṇḍavat-praṇipāta are presented as embodied surrender (śaraṇāgati) to Śiva, a key bhakti posture that supports receptivity to anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that true approach to Pati (Lord Śiva) is through bhakti expressed as humility—joined palms, circumambulation, and full surrender—signs of the soul (paśu) loosening bondage (pāśa) by grace-oriented devotion.

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

Pradakṣiṇā and daṇḍavat-praṇāma are classic forms of saguna worship in a Śiva shrine, especially before the Liṅga/Jyotirliṅga, where the devotee honors Śiva’s immanent presence while cultivating inner reverence toward His transcendent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform añjali (joined palms), pradakṣiṇā (circumambulation), and daṇḍavat-praṇāma (full prostration) mindfully—ideally with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a simple, complete act of Śiva-bhakti.