Shloka 12

Devanagari script

न निवृत्तोऽभवस्त्वं हि स यदा शङ्करेच्छया । इति प्रोक्तोऽद्रिणा तर्हि वीणां मा वादयाधुना

Transliteration

na nivṛtto'bhavastvaṃ hi sa yadā śaṅkarecchayā | iti prokto'driṇā tarhi vīṇāṃ mā vādayādhunā

Translation

Truly, you did not withdraw from that act at that time, for it was by Śaṅkara’s own will. Thus spoken to by the Mountain (Himālaya), he then said, “Do not play the vīṇā now.”

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपादक (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• निवृत्तः: ceased/turned back
• निवृत्तः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject complement of त्वम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (turned back/ceased)

• अभवः: you were/became
• अभवः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपादक (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• सः: he/that (you)
• सः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; resumptive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यदा: when
• यदा: सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपादक (Temporal linker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (relative temporal: 'when')

• शङ्कर-इच्छया: by Śaṅkara's wish
• शङ्कर-इच्छया: हेतु/करण (Hetu/Instrumental cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक) + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शङ्करस्य इच्छा)

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपादक (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• प्रोक्तः: having been told
• प्रोक्तः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; predicate participle of implied ‘त्वम्’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि (having been told)

• अद्रिणा: by the mountain (Himālaya)
• अद्रिणा: करण (Karaṇa/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तर्हि: then/therefore
• तर्हि: सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपादक (Inference/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तर्हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदानीन्तन/निष्कर्षार्थ (then/therefore)

• वीणाम्: the vīṇā
• वीणाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मा: do not
• मा: सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपादक (Prohibition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय; लोट्/विधिलिङ्-निषेध (prohibitive particle)

• वादय: play (it)
• वादय: क्रिया (Kriyā/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वादय् (धातु, णिजन्त)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time locus)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (now)

Speaker

Himālaya (the Mountain), within Sūta Gosvāmin’s narration

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Himalaya

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes that events unfold under Śaṅkara’s icchā (divine will); recognizing this fosters humility, surrender (śaraṇāgati), and freedom from ego-driven blame—key to Shaiva devotion and inner purification.

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

By pointing to Śaṅkara’s will as the governing principle, the verse supports Saguna Shiva-bhakti: the devotee relates to Shiva as the conscious Lord (Pati) who directs outcomes, which is central to Linga worship and trusting Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is sense-restraint and devotional focus: pause distractions and turn the mind toward Shiva—e.g., japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a calm, disciplined attitude.