Shloka 21

पूर्वगतिवर्णनम् (Pūrvagati-varṇana) — “Description of the Prior Course / Earlier Lineage Account”

Devanagari script

अभ्युत्थानं कृतं नो यन्नमस्कारोपि गर्वतः । मोहिता नरभावत्वात्स्वर्गाद्दूरा भवन्तु हि

Transliteration

abhyutthānaṃ kṛtaṃ no yannamaskāropi garvataḥ | mohitā narabhāvatvātsvargāddūrā bhavantu hi

Translation

“Since you did not rise in respect for us, nor even offer obeisance—puffed up with pride—may you, deluded by the limitations of human nature, indeed remain far from heaven.”

Word by Word

• अभ्युत्थानम्: rising up, respectful standing
• अभ्युत्थानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्युत्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे ‘कृतम्’ इत्यस्य कर्म (object)

• कृतम्: done
• कृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘(अभ्युत्थानम्) कृतम्’ = has been done

• नः: our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (6th/4th) बहुवचन-एकवचनरूप ‘नः’; अत्र षष्ठी (Genitive) = ‘our’

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• नमस्कारः: salutation
• नमस्कारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपि = even/also

• गर्वतः: from pride; due to pride
• गर्वतः: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ पञ्चमी (ablative of cause)

• मोहिताः: deluded
• मोहिताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुह् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘deluded’

• नरभावत्वात्: due to human-nature/being human
• नरभावत्वात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर+भावत्व (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (नरस्य भावः) + त्व-प्रत्यय; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ पञ्चमी

• स्वर्गात्: from heaven
• स्वर्गात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• दूराः: far away
• दूराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• भवन्तु: let them be/become
• भवन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), निश्चयार्थ/हेत्वर्थ

Speaker

Divine/ascetic guests (Devas or sages) addressing a proud person in the narrative, as narrated by Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

FAQs

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

The verse warns that pride and failure to show reverence harden ego (ahaṅkāra), creating karmic obstruction; in Shaiva Siddhanta this ego is a form of pāśa (bondage) that keeps the soul from higher states and grace.

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

Linga-worship is grounded in humility and surrender; refusing namaskāra reflects inner arrogance, which contradicts the devotional attitude (bhāva) required for receiving Shiva’s anugraha (grace) through saguna forms like the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily namaskāra with the Panchākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivate atithi-sevā (respect to guests/sages), and perform worship with a humble mind—optionally with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to dissolve pride.