Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन वच्मि तत्त्वं मतं स्वकम् । न प्रार्थये पशुपतेरन्यं देवादिकं स्फुटम्

Transliteration

bahunātra kimuktena vacmi tattvaṃ mataṃ svakam | na prārthaye paśupateranyaṃ devādikaṃ sphuṭam

Translation

What is the use of saying much here? I shall state plainly the truth as I myself hold it: I do not seek any other deity whatsoever—only Paśupati (Lord Śiva) alone.

Word by Word

• बहुना: with much (talk)
• बहुना: करण (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; ‘with much (speech)’ (instrumental of means)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: अधिकरण (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place: ‘here’)

• किम्: what
• किम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक-सर्वनाम

• उक्तेन: by speaking; by what is said
• उक्तेन: करण (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle used substantively), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; ‘by what is said’

• वच्मि: I speak; I state
• वच्मि: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्त्वम्: the truth; the essence
• तत्त्वम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• मतम्: opinion; view
• मतम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन् (धातु) → मत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP used as noun: ‘opinion’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘(my) view’

• स्वकम्: my own
• स्वकम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies ‘मतम्’)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात (negation)

• प्रार्थये: I request; I seek
• प्रार्थये: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पशुपतेः: of Paśupati (Śiva)
• पशुपतेः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशुपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; ‘of Paśupati’

• अन्यम्: another; other
• अन्यम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies ‘देवादिकम्’)

• देव-आदिकम्: any other (being) such as a god etc.
• देव-आदिकम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘देवाः आदयः यस्य’ इति (आदि-प्रयोगः)

• स्फुटम्: clearly; plainly
• स्फुटम्: विशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्फुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन-प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative: ‘clearly’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shaiva standpoint to the sages of Naimisharanya, consistent with Purana dialogue flow)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Pashupatinatha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse functions as a doctrinal pivot (tattva-vākya) rather than a site legend: it asserts Paśupati as the sole ultimate refuge, aligning with Purāṇic framing where tīrthas and devas are efficacious through Śiva’s sanction.

Significance: Cultivates ekānta-bhakti and śaraṇāgati to Paśupati; in Siddhānta terms, this orientation prepares the paśu for Śiva’s anugraha that alone cuts pāśa.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Pashupati

FAQs

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

It asserts ekānta-bhakti—single-pointed devotion—declaring Paśupati (Śiva) as the supreme refuge (Pati) and rejecting dependence on other deities for the highest aim, i.e., liberation and Shiva’s grace.

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

By affirming worship directed solely to Paśupati, the verse supports focused Saguna worship—commonly through the Śiva-liṅga—as a concentrated means to receive Shiva’s anugraha (grace) without dispersing devotion among multiple objects.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is unwavering Shiva-upāsanā: daily japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), liṅga-archana, and a vow of exclusive refuge in Śiva (śaraṇāgati), rather than seeking boons from other devatās.