Shloka 42

जालन्धरस्य दूतप्रेषणम् — Jalandhara Sends an Envoy to Kailāsa

The Provocation of Śiva

Devanagari script

क्षुधा मां बाधते स्वामिन्क्षुत्क्षामश्चास्मि सर्वथा । किं भक्ष्यं मम देवेश तदाज्ञापय मां प्रभो

Transliteration

kṣudhā māṃ bādhate svāminkṣutkṣāmaścāsmi sarvathā | kiṃ bhakṣyaṃ mama deveśa tadājñāpaya māṃ prabho

Translation

“Hunger torments me, O Master, and I am utterly weakened by it. O Lord of the gods, what should I eat? O Sovereign, command me.”

Word by Word

• क्षुधा: hunger
• क्षुधा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुध्/क्षुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• बाधते: afflicts/torments
• बाधते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बाध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्वामिन्: O master
• स्वामिन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• क्षुत्-क्षामः: emaciated from hunger
• क्षुत्-क्षामः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुत् (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘hunger-wasted’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अहम्-विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• सर्वथा: entirely/in every way
• सर्वथा: Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (प्रकाराधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक (interrogative)

• भक्ष्यम्: food
• भक्ष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• देव-ईश: O Lord of gods
• देव-ईश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘of gods’ + ‘lord’), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘that’ referring to ‘what food’

• आज्ञापय: command/tell
• आज्ञापय: Preraṇā-kriyā (प्रेरणाक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

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

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

An attendant/demonic being in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative (a subordinate addressing the supreme lord as Deveśa/Prabhu)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

FAQs

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

It highlights dependence on higher authority and the humility of seeking right action even for basic needs; in Shaiva thought, disciplined obedience (ājñā) and restraint over bodily urges support dharma and, ultimately, liberation under Pati (the Lord).

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

Addressing the supreme as “Deveśa/Prabhu” reflects Saguna devotion—approaching the Lord as a personal governor who guides action; the same attitude underlies Linga-worship where the devotee seeks Shiva’s command and protection.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is moderation and offering one’s sustenance to Shiva mentally before eating, while repeating the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to cultivate restraint and surrender.