Shloka 42

Devanagari script

प्रणम्य शंकरं प्रेम्णा सर्वे सांजलयस्सुराः । नतस्कंधाः सुवाग्भिस्ते तुष्टुवुर्भक्तवत्सलम्

Transliteration

praṇamya śaṃkaraṃ premṇā sarve sāṃjalayassurāḥ | nataskaṃdhāḥ suvāgbhiste tuṣṭuvurbhaktavatsalam

Translation

Having bowed to Śaṅkara with loving devotion, all the gods, with palms joined and shoulders bent in reverence, praised Him with noble words—Him who is ever affectionate to His devotees.

Word by Word

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: प्र-नम्; क्रियाविशेषणभावः (पूर्वकर्म)

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रेम्णा: with love
• प्रेम्णा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (सुराः इति)

• स-अञ्जलयः: with joined palms
• स-अञ्जलयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः: स + अञ्जलयः (अञ्जलिं कृत्वा/अञ्जलिमुद्रायुक्ताः)

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• नत-स्कन्धाः: with bowed shoulders
• नत-स्कन्धाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नत (कृदन्त, नम्-धातोः क्त) + स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः: नताः स्कन्धाः येषाम्/नतस्कन्धाः (bent shoulders)

• सु-वाग्भिः: with good words
• सु-वाग्भिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (वाच्), तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः: सुवाक् (good speech) → सुवाग्भिः

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• तुष्टुवुः: praised
• तुष्टुवुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• भक्त-वत्सलम्: the devotee-loving (Lord)
• भक्त-वत्सलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: भक्तानां वत्सलः (affectionate to devotees)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the events to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights bhakti as the qualifying means (adhikāra) for receiving Śiva’s grace: ‘bhaktavatsala’ frames pilgrimage/darśana as relational, not merely spatial.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights bhakti as a direct means of grace: even the devas approach Śiva through humility (pranāma), añjali, and sincere praise, affirming Him as bhaktavatsala—one whose compassion responds to devotion.

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

The focus is on Saguna Śiva—Śaṅkara who receives reverent salutations and stuti. In Śaiva practice, this same attitude is offered before the Śiva-liṅga through añjali, namaskāra, and recitation of hymns, treating the liṅga as the living presence of the devotee-loving Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice añjali with pranāma and offer stuti: bow before Śiva (or the liṅga), then recite the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a humble, loving mind; conclude with verbal praise (stotra) as an act of surrendered devotion.