Shloka 19

उपमन्युकुमारस्य क्षीरार्थ-प्रार्थना तथा शिवप्रसाद-निबन्धनम् | Upamanyu’s Longing for Milk and the Doctrine of Shiva’s Grace

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शंभुर्विष्ण्वाद्यैः प्रार्थितः प्रभुः । परीक्षितुं च तद्भक्तिं शक्ररूपोऽभवत्तदा

Transliteration

etasminnantare śaṃbhurviṣṇvādyaiḥ prārthitaḥ prabhuḥ | parīkṣituṃ ca tadbhaktiṃ śakrarūpo'bhavattadā

Translation

Meanwhile, the Lord Śambhu—implored by Viṣṇu and the other deities—assumed the form of Śakra (Indra) in order to test the sincerity of that devotion.

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अन्तरे: in the interval
• अन्तरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विष्ण्वाद्यैः: by Viṣṇu and others
• विष्ण्वाद्यैः: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘विष्णु-आदि’ (विष्णुः आदिः येषाम्) समूहवाचक

• प्रार्थितः: having been prayed to
• प्रार्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-अर्थ् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कर्मणि-भूतकृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘having been entreated’

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; शम्भोः अप्पोजिशन

• परीक्षितुम्: to test
• परीक्षितुम्: Prayojana/Artha (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-ईक्ष् (धातु) + तुमुन् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमन्त (Infinitive), ‘to test/examine’

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

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• भक्तिम्: devotion
• भक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शक्ररूपः: in the form of Śakra (Indra)
• शक्ररूपः: Kartṛviśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शक्रस्य रूपम्)

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Deva-sabhā concern leading to divine descent in disguise (līlā of concealment)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Indra

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva as Pati (the supreme Lord) who compassionately tests devotion—not to reject devotees, but to purify ego and confirm steady bhakti that leads toward His grace and liberation.

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

Śiva taking a visible form (Śakra/Indra) highlights Saguna worship and divine līlā: the same transcendent Nirguṇa Lord can appear in approachable forms to guide devotees toward steadfast Linga-bhakti and surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steadiness in bhakti under trials—continue japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and maintain daily Śiva-upāsanā (e.g., Tripuṇḍra/bhasma and simple Linga worship) even when faith is tested.