Shloka 41

Devanagari script

स्मृत्वा स्वेष्टपदद्वन्द्वं स्वदेहं दग्धुमुद्यतः । आग्नेयीं धारणां बिभ्रदुपमन्युरवस्थितः

Transliteration

smṛtvā sveṣṭapadadvandvaṃ svadehaṃ dagdhumudyataḥ | āgneyīṃ dhāraṇāṃ bibhradupamanyuravasthitaḥ

Translation

Remembering the pair of his beloved Lord’s feet, Upamanyu prepared to burn his own body; abiding steadily, he assumed the fiery (āgneyī) yogic concentration.

Word by Word

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having remembered’

• स्व-इष्ट-पद-द्वन्द्वम्: his desired pair of feet (beloved feet)
• स्व-इष्ट-पद-द्वन्द्वम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + इष्ट (कृदन्त, √इष्) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वस्य इष्टस्य पदयोः द्वन्द्वम् = pair of desired feet/positions)

• स्वदेहम्: his own body
• स्वदेहम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वस्य देहः’

• दग्धुम्: to burn
• दग्धुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दह् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (infinitive), ‘to burn’

• उद्यतः: ready, intent
• उद्यतः: विशेषण (of उपमन्युः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √यत् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय, उपसर्ग: उद्-; विशेषण (उपमन्युः)

• आग्नेयीम्: fiery, of Agni
• आग्नेयीम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आग्नेयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (धारणाम्)

• धारणाम्: concentration/meditative fixation
• धारणाम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• बिभ्रत्: bearing, maintaining
• बिभ्रत्: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता) (participial, of उपमन्युः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘bearing/holding’

• उपमन्युः: Upamanyu
• उपमन्युः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपमन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अवस्थितः: stood firm, remained
• अवस्थितः: विशेषण (of उपमन्युः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) उपसर्ग: अव-; ‘स्थितः/स्थिरः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Upamanyu
• Agni

FAQs

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

It highlights single-pointed bhakti to Shiva—remembering the Lord’s feet—combined with intense tapas and yogic steadiness, showing how devotion and disciplined concentration purify the pashu (bound soul) toward Shiva’s grace.

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

The verse centers on saguna-upasana through loving remembrance of Shiva’s sacred feet (a concrete devotional support), which in Shiva traditions complements Linga worship as an accessible focus for meditation and surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests yogic dhāraṇā—specifically āgneyī dhāraṇā (fire-element concentration)—supported by devotional smaraṇa (remembrance). Practically, one may combine mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady inner focus to kindle spiritual “fire” without self-harm.