Shloka 24

गिरिराजस्य शिवनिमन्त्रणम् / The Mountain-King Invites Śiva

Hospitality to Śiva and the Devas

Devanagari script

तदाकर्ण्य गिरीशश्चोवाच देवान् कृताञ्जलिः । कियद्दिनानि तिष्ठन्तु कृपाङ्कुर्वन्तु मां सुराः

Transliteration

tadākarṇya girīśaścovāca devān kṛtāñjaliḥ | kiyaddināni tiṣṭhantu kṛpāṅkurvantu māṃ surāḥ

Translation

Hearing this, Lord Girīśa (Śiva), with folded hands, addressed the gods: “Let them remain here for some days; O devas, show compassion to me.”

Word by Word

• तत्: that (request)
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; pronoun used as object of hearing

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कर्ण्/√श्रु (धातु; here √कर्ण् ‘to hear’)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having heard’

• गिरीशः: Lord of the mountain (Śiva)
• गिरीशः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवान्: to the gods
• देवान्: सम्प्रदान/कर्म (Addressee/Target)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• कृत-अञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• कृत-अञ्जलिः: कर्ता (Karta; qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु, PPP) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (descriptive): ‘कृतः अञ्जलिः येन’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कियत्: how many
• कियत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कियत् (प्रातिपदिक; interrogative)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; agrees with दिनानि

• दिनानि: days
• दिनानि: कालाधिकरण (Time-extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; accusative of extent of time

• तिष्ठन्तु: let (them) stay
• तिष्ठन्तु: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• कृपाम्: mercy
• कृपाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कुर्वन्तु: let (them) do / show
• कुर्वन्तु: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: एकवचन, द्वितीया (2nd)

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Girīśa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s līlā of humility and harmony: though Pati (the Supreme Lord) is self-sufficient, he models reverence and compassionate coordination with the devas, teaching devotees that spiritual greatness expresses itself as grace, restraint, and concern for the cosmic order.

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

The verse presents Saguna Śiva—Girīśa—engaging personally with the devas. In Linga worship, devotees approach the same compassionate Lord who listens, responds, and guides the divine community, reinforcing bhakti grounded in Śiva’s accessible, gracious form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The gesture kṛtāñjali (folded hands) suggests devotional upacāra and inner surrender; a practical takeaway is to begin japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with añjali and a prayer for kṛpā (grace), cultivating humility before seeking boons or resolution.