Shloka 4

मयस्य शिवस्तुतिः — Maya’s Hymn to Śiva

and Śiva’s Gracious Response

Devanagari script

मय उवाच देवदेव महादेव भक्तवत्सल शंकरः । कल्पवृक्षस्वरूपोसि सर्वपक्षविवर्जितः

Transliteration

maya uvāca devadeva mahādeva bhaktavatsala śaṃkaraḥ | kalpavṛkṣasvarūposi sarvapakṣavivarjitaḥ

Translation

Mayā said: “O God of gods, O Mahādeva, O Śaṅkara, tender to devotees! You are truly of the nature of the wish-fulfilling Kalpavṛkṣa, and You are free from all partiality—untainted by taking any side.”

Word by Word

• मयः: Maya
• मयः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (speaker)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd sg perfect

• देवदेव: O God of gods
• देवदेव: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (देवानां देवः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• महादेव: O Mahādeva
• महादेव: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक: महा + देव)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भक्तवत्सल: O lover of devotees
• भक्तवत्सल: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त-वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भक्तेषु वत्सलः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (apposition to देवदेव etc.)

• कल्पवृक्षस्वरूपः: (you) whose form is the wish-fulfilling tree
• कल्पवृक्षस्वरूपः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्पवृक्ष-स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कल्पवृक्षस्य स्वरूपः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• असि: you are
• असि: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; 2nd sg present

• सर्वपक्षविवर्जितः: devoid of all partiality/sides
• सर्वपक्षविवर्जितः: विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव (Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-पक्ष-विवर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वैः पक्षैः विवर्जितः / सर्वपक्षेभ्यः विवर्जितः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate adjective

Speaker

Mayā

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga-sthala episode; the line functions as a general stuti in a battle-context, praising Śiva’s impartial grace and wish-fulfilling nature.

Significance: General: remembrance of Śiva as bhaktavatsala and nirapakṣa (impartial) is said to remove anxiety about divine favoritism and to steady surrender (śaraṇāgati).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays Śiva as bhaktavatsala (gracious to devotees) and sarvapakṣavivarjita (beyond favoritism), indicating the Shaiva Siddhānta view that the Lord’s grace is impartial in essence, yet responds to sincere devotion and surrender.

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

Calling Śiva a ‘kalpavṛkṣa’ supports Saguna upāsanā—devotees approach Śiva (often through the Liṅga) for protection and boons; yet His ‘freedom from sides’ reminds worshippers that the Liṅga represents the Lord who transcends worldly factions and ego-driven claims.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is bhakti-based japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a vow of non-partisanship and humility—seeking Śiva’s grace not for rivalry, but for purification and liberation.