Shloka 41

तारकासुर-पूर्ववृत्त-प्रश्नः (Questions on Tārakāsura and Śivā’s tapas) / “Inquiry into Tārakāsura’s origin and Śivā–Śiva narrative”

Devanagari script

वज्रांगस्तु तदा प्रीतं मां दृष्ट्वा स्थितं विभुम् । सुप्रणम्य बहुस्तुत्वा वरं वव्रे प्रियाहितम्

Transliteration

vajrāṃgastu tadā prītaṃ māṃ dṛṣṭvā sthitaṃ vibhum | supraṇamya bahustutvā varaṃ vavre priyāhitam

Translation

Then Vajrāṅga, delighted on beholding Me—the all-pervading Lord—standing there, bowed down deeply and praised Me at length. After that, seeking what would be truly beneficial and dear, he chose a boon.

Word by Word

• वज्राङ्गः: Vajrāṅga (proper name)
• वज्राङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘वज्रवत् अङ्गं यस्य’ इति रूढिनाम)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Avadharana (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), contrast/emphasis

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• प्रीतम्: pleased
• प्रीतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (विभुम् इत्यस्य)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• स्थितम्: standing
• स्थितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (विभुम्)

• विभुम्: the Lord, the mighty one
• विभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुप्रणम्य: having bowed deeply
• सुप्रणम्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु-प्र-नम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), ‘having bowed well’

• बहुस्तुत्वा: having praised much
• बहुस्तुत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहु + स्तु (धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय; ‘having praised much’ (बहु- उपपदपूर्वक)

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वव्रे: chose/asked for
• वव्रे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• प्रियाहितम्: dear and beneficial (boon)
• प्रियाहितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय + अहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (वरम्); तत्पुरुष (‘प्रियस्य अहितम्’/‘प्रियं हितम्’—पाठभेदसम्भवः)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (narrated within the Rudrasaṃhitā discourse; Shiva speaks in first person as 'mām')

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vajrāṅga

FAQs

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

It presents the Shaiva path of grace: the devotee recognizes Shiva as Vibhu (the all-pervading Lord), approaches with humility (praṇāma) and heartfelt praise (stuti), and then seeks a boon aligned with true welfare (hita), not mere desire.

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

The verse models saguna-upāsanā—devotional approach to Shiva as a present, accessible Lord who receives reverence and stuti. Such bhakti is the same inner attitude brought to Liṅga worship: surrender, praise, and asking for what supports dharma and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform namaskāra and stotra recitation before Shiva (especially in Liṅga pūjā), then make a sankalpa for a boon that is priyahita—beneficial for spiritual progress; accompany it with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as the devotional core.