Shloka 8

साधुवेषद्विजाह्वयावतारकथनम् | Account of the ‘Sādhu-veṣa’ Brahmin-Named Incarnation

Prelude

Devanagari script

देवा ऊचुः । गुरो हिमालयगृहं गच्छास्मत्कार्य्यसिद्धये । कृत्वा निंदां महेशस्य गिरिभक्तिं निवारय

Transliteration

devā ūcuḥ | guro himālayagṛhaṃ gacchāsmatkāryyasiddhaye | kṛtvā niṃdāṃ maheśasya giribhaktiṃ nivāraya

Translation

The gods said: “O Guru, go to the house of Himālaya so that our purpose may be accomplished. By voicing censure of Mahesha, restrain the Mountain-king’s devotion to Śiva.”

Word by Word

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (देव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ūcuḥ: said
• ūcuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• guro: O guru
• guro: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (गुरु प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• himālaya-gṛham: to Himālaya’s house
• himālaya-gṛham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: himālaya (हिमालय प्रातिपदिक) + gṛha (गृह प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (house of Himālaya)

• gaccha: go
• gaccha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• asmat-kārya-siddhaye: for the success of our mission
• asmat-kārya-siddhaye: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmat (अस्मद् सर्वनाम) + kārya (कार्य प्रातिपदिक) + siddhi (सिद्धि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (for the accomplishment of our task)

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund): ‘having done’

• nindām: censure, blame
• nindām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nindā (निन्दा प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• maheśasya: of Maheśa
• maheśasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśa (महेश प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• giri-bhaktim: Himālaya’s devotion
• giri-bhaktim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (गिरि प्रातिपदिक) + bhakti (भक्ति प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (devotion of the mountain [Himālaya])

• nivāraya: stop, prevent
• nivāraya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-vṛ (नि-वृ धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: ‘cause to cease’)

Speaker

The Devas (gods)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahesha
• Himalaya

FAQs

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

It highlights how divine devotion to Śiva can be tested by opposition and blame; in Śaiva Siddhānta, true bhakti remains steady because Mahesha (Pati) is beyond worldly censure.

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

The verse shows an attempt to deter devotion to Mahesha’s manifest (saguṇa) presence; yet Śiva-worship—often centered on the Liṅga—endures when devotees see the Lord as the supreme refuge beyond social opinion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to protect one’s bhakti through steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined Śiva-upāsanā, remaining unmoved by praise or blame.