Shloka 20

मयस्य शिवस्तुतिः — Maya’s Hymn to Śiva

and Śiva’s Gracious Response

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्याज्ञां शिरसाधाय शंकरस्य महात्मनः । तं प्रणम्य सुरांश्चापि वितलं प्रजगाम सः

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | ityājñāṃ śirasādhāya śaṃkarasya mahātmanaḥ | taṃ praṇamya surāṃścāpi vitalaṃ prajagāma saḥ

Translation

Sanatkumāra said: “Thus, having received and reverently borne upon his head the command of the great-souled Śaṅkara, and having bowed to Him and also to the gods, he departed for Vitala.”

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्-कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु √वच्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotative particle

• आज्ञाम्: command
• आज्ञाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• आधाय: having placed (on), having borne
• आधाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-धा (धातु √धा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund) with prefix आ-; indeclinable (अव्ययभाव); 'having placed/borne'

• शंकरस्य: of Śaṅkara
• शंकरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; महा + आत्मन्)
• Form: Karmadhāraya ('great-souled'); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying शंकरस्य

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• प्रणम्य: having bowed to
• प्रणम्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु √नम्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); indeclinable (अव्ययभाव); 'having bowed'

• सुरान्: the gods
• सुरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (समुच्चय/अपि)

• वितलम्: to Vitala
• वितलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वितल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• प्रजगाम: went forth
• प्रजगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-गम् (धातु √गम्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Transmission of divine command through a jñānin-sage narrator (Sanatkumāra)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (surrender): receiving Śiva’s command as supreme, honoring it “on the head,” and moving forward without ego—an essential Shaiva virtue for grace (anugraha) and liberation.

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

Śaṅkara is approached as Saguna Śiva—the personal Lord who gives direct ājñā. Devotional acts like pranāma mirror how devotees approach the Śiva-liṅga: with reverence, obedience, and readiness to act in alignment with the Lord’s will.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily pranāma to Śiva (and respectful salutation to devas), coupled with mental acceptance of the Lord’s will—ideally while japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to steady humility and resolve.