Shloka 9

दधीचाश्रमगमनम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and Dadhīca’s Fearlessness

Kṣu’s Request

Devanagari script

अस्ति चेत्कस्यचिद्भीतिर्भवार्चनरतस्य मे । वक्तुमर्हसि यत्नेन सत्यधारणपूर्वकम्

Transliteration

asti cetkasyacidbhītirbhavārcanaratasya me | vaktumarhasi yatnena satyadhāraṇapūrvakam

Translation

If there is any fear at all for me—who am devoted to the worship of Bhava (Lord Śiva)—then you should tell it to me with care, first grounding your words in truth and steadfastness.

Word by Word

• asti: there is
• asti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• cet: if
• cet: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cet (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक निपात (conditional particle) — 'if'

• kasya-cit: of someone
• kasya-cit: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ka (प्रातिपदिक) + cit (अव्यय)
• Form: सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; 'of someone/anyone'

• bhītiḥ: fear
• bhītiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• bhava-arcana-ratasya: of me, devoted to worship of Bhava (Śiva)
• bhava-arcana-ratasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक) + arcana (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (bhavasya arcanam; tasmin rataḥ) — 'devoted to worship of Bhava'

• me: of me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• vaktum: to say
• vaktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; अर्थ: 'to speak'

• arhasi: you ought/are fit
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• yatnena: with effort
• yatnena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• satya-dhāraṇa-pūrvakam: preceded by/with adherence to truth
• satya-dhāraṇa-pūrvakam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् (adverbial) — 'with truth-holding as prior'

Speaker

Satī (addressing Lord Śiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights a Shaiva ethic of spiritual inquiry: even a devotee seeks clarity, and true guidance must be spoken carefully and rooted in satya (truth) and inner steadiness—qualities that support liberation under Śiva’s grace.

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

By calling Śiva “Bhava” and identifying oneself as devoted to His worship, the verse reflects Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva through reverent worship (such as Liṅga-arcana) while seeking truthful instruction that stabilizes the devotee’s mind.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate practice implied is satya-dhāraṇa—holding firmly to truth and steadiness before speaking or acting; in Shaiva sādhanā this aligns with disciplined japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and mindful conduct that removes fear through devotion.