Shloka 31

Devanagari script

बृहस्पतिरुवाच । हे देव भगवन्भक्ता अनुकम्प्याः सदैव हि । भक्तवत्सलनामेति स्वं सत्यं कुरु शंकर

Transliteration

bṛhaspatiruvāca | he deva bhagavanbhaktā anukampyāḥ sadaiva hi | bhaktavatsalanāmeti svaṃ satyaṃ kuru śaṃkara

Translation

Bṛhaspati said: “O Deva, O Blessed Lord—your devotees are ever worthy of compassion. Since you are renowned as ‘Bhaktavatsala’, tenderly devoted to your devotees, O Śaṅkara, make your own name (and promise) true.”

Word by Word

• bṛhaspatiḥ: Bṛhaspati
• bṛhaspatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhaspati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• he: O
• he: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: he (अव्यय)
• Form: Vocative particle (सम्बोधन-निपात)

• deva: O god
• deva: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhagavan: O Blessed Lord
• bhagavan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhaktāḥ: devotees
• bhaktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक; from √bhaj)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• anukampyāḥ: worthy of compassion
• anukampyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anukampya (प्रातिपदिक; from anu+√kamp, यत्/ण्यत् sense)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); predicate adjective to bhaktāḥ

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• hi: for/indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) giving emphasis/reason

• bhakta-vatsala-nāma: the name 'devotee-loving'
• bhakta-vatsala-nāma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक) + nāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (bhaktānāṃ vatsalaḥ) + nāma as 'name'

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• svam: your own
• svam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम् (qualifying satyam)

• satyam: truth / promise
• satyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kuru: make / fulfill
• kuru: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaṃkara: O Śaṅkara
• śaṃkara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Bṛhaspati

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes the doctrinal basis for approaching Śiva as Bhaktavatsala: the Lord’s grace (anugraha) is invoked through śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) and compassionate regard for the paśu (bound soul).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms a core Shaiva teaching: Shiva’s grace (anugraha) naturally flows toward sincere devotees, and His divine “name” as Bhaktavatsala is realized through compassionate action.

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

By addressing Śaṅkara as personally responsive to devotees, the verse supports Saguna Shiva devotion—approaching the Linga as a living presence who grants mercy and protection to bhaktas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is bhakti-based japa—especially the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—performed with trust in Shiva’s compassion and the intention to live as a worthy devotee.