Shloka 12

Devanagari script

सुप्रणम्य शिवां भक्त्या स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्बुजम् । सम्प्राप्य हिमगिर्य्याज्ञां स्वं स्वं स्थाने समाश्रिताः

Transliteration

supraṇamya śivāṃ bhaktyā smṛtvā śivapadāmbujam | samprāpya himagiryyājñāṃ svaṃ svaṃ sthāne samāśritāḥ

Translation

Having bowed deeply to Śivā (Pārvatī) with devotion, and remembering the lotus-feet of Lord Śiva, they received the command of Himagiri and then each withdrew to his or her own proper place.

Word by Word

• सु-प्रणम्य: having bowed well
• सु-प्रणम्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-भाव) + √नम् (धातु)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive) ‘प्रणम्य’ = having bowed; ‘सु’ = well

• शिवाम्: Śivā (Pārvatī)
• शिवाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• शिव-पद-अम्बुजम्: Śiva’s lotus-feet
• शिव-पद-अम्बुजम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘शिवस्य पदाम्बुजम्’ = Śiva’s lotus-feet)

• सम्-प्राप्य: having obtained/reached
• सम्-प्राप्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग) + √प्राप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• हिमगिरि-आज्ञाम्: Himālaya’s command
• हिमगिरि-आज्ञाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमगिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘हिमगिरेः आज्ञाम्’ = order of Himagiri/Himālaya)

• स्वम्: one’s own
• स्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘स्थानम्’ understood)

• स्वम्: (each) his own
• स्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (each his own)

• स्थाने: in (their) place
• स्थाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सम्-आश्रिताः: settled/resorted
• सम्-आश्रिताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग) + आश्रित (कृदन्त, √श्रि श्रयणे)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) used predicatively ‘having resorted/settled’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Himagiri

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta mood of surrender (praṇāma) and remembrance (smaraṇa) of Śiva’s lotus-feet as the inner act that sanctifies outer actions—only after devotion and receiving rightful permission do beings return to their ordained duties.

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

Remembering Śiva’s lotus-feet points to Saguna devotion—fixing the mind on Śiva’s compassionate form and presence (as in Liṅga worship) so that conduct becomes aligned with Śiva’s grace and order rather than mere social routine.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is bhakti-praṇāma followed by dhyāna/smaraṇa of Śiva’s feet—mentally repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while bowing, then acting in one’s proper station with humility.