Shloka 38

देवस्तुतिः—शिवस्य परब्रह्मत्वं, मायाशक्तिः, कर्मफलप्रदातृत्वं च

Devas’ Hymn: Śiva as Parabrahman, Māyā-Śakti, and Giver of Karmic Fruits

Devanagari script

वीरात्मने सुविद्याय श्रीकंठाय पिनाकिने । नमोनंताय सूक्ष्माय नमस्ते मृत्युमन्यवे

Transliteration

vīrātmane suvidyāya śrīkaṃṭhāya pinākine | namonaṃtāya sūkṣmāya namaste mṛtyumanyave

Translation

Salutations to You whose very Self is heroic power; to You who are perfect wisdom; to Śrīkaṇṭha, the auspicious-throated Lord; to the bearer of the Pināka bow. Salutations to the Infinite, to the Subtle One; salutations to You, O conqueror of Death’s wrath.

Word by Word

• वीरात्मने: to the heroic-souled one
• वीरात्मने: सम्प्रदान (Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; वीर + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; ‘वीरः आत्मा यस्य/वीर-आत्मा’ (heroic-souled) as epithet

• सुविद्याय: to (the embodiment of) good knowledge
• सुविद्याय: सम्प्रदान (Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-विद्या (प्रातिपदिक; सु + विद्या)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; ‘good knowledge’ as epithet

• श्रीकण्ठाय: to Śrīkaṇṭha
• श्रीकण्ठाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीकण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; श्री + कण्ठ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; नाम (Śrīkaṇṭha)

• पिनाकिने: to the bearer of Pināka
• पिनाकिने: सम्प्रदान (Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिनाकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; ‘पिनाक-मत्’ (bearer of Pināka bow)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन/प्रार्थना (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• अनन्ताय: to the infinite
• अनन्ताय: सम्प्रदान (Dative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; विशेषण (to the infinite)

• सूक्ष्माय: to the subtle
• सूक्ष्माय: सम्प्रदान (Dative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; विशेषण (to the subtle)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन/प्रार्थना (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• ते: to you
• ते: सम्प्रदान (Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative) एकवचन-रूप (enclitic); ‘to you’

• मृत्युमन्यवे: to the death-defying (wrathful) one
• मृत्युमन्यवे: सम्प्रदान (Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु-मन्यु (प्रातिपदिक; मृत्यु + मन्यु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; ‘मृत्योर् मन्युः’ (wrath against death / death-conquering wrath) as epithet

Speaker

Sati (in praise of Lord Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse worships Shiva as both Saguna (Śrīkaṇṭha, bearer of Pināka) and Nirguna (Ananta, Sūkṣma). In Shaiva Siddhanta, such praise turns the mind from fear and limitation toward Pati (Shiva), the infinite Lord who grants knowledge and liberation beyond death.

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

The Linga signifies Shiva’s subtle, formless reality (sūkṣma) while also being approached through name and form in devotion. Calling Him Śrīkaṇṭha and Pinākin affirms Saguna worship, and calling Him Ananta and Sūkṣma affirms the transcendent reality the Linga points to.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use this as a Shiva-stuti during japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” meditating on Shiva as the subtle Infinite. For traditional Shaiva practice, accompany with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa while contemplating freedom from the fear of death.