Shloka 19

Droṇācārya’s Tapas and the Manifestation of Śiva: The Birth-Grant of Aśvatthāmā (अश्वत्थामा-अवतार-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

अश्वत्थामा महावीरो महादेवांशजो मुने । तदापि तद्भक्तिवशः स्वप्रतापमदर्शयत्

Transliteration

aśvatthāmā mahāvīro mahādevāṃśajo mune | tadāpi tadbhaktivaśaḥ svapratāpamadarśayat

Translation

O sage, Aśvatthāmā—though a mighty hero and even an emanated portion of Mahādeva—still, being governed by devotion to Him, manifested his own sacred prowess.

Word by Word

• अश्वत्थामा: Ashvatthama
• अश्वत्थामा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वत्थामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• महावीरः: a great hero
• महावीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महावीर (प्रातिपदिक; महा+वीर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; उपपद-सम्बन्धे विशेषणवत् (appositional)

• महादेवांशजः: born of a portion of Mahadeva
• महादेवांशजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव-अंश-ज (प्रातिपदिक; महादेव + अंश + ज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘महादेवस्य अंशः’ + ‘जः’ (born of a portion of Mahadeva)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (vocative)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), ‘even/also’

• तद्भक्तिवशः: subdued by devotion to him
• तद्भक्तिवशः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद्-भक्ति-वश (प्रातिपदिक; तद् + भक्ति + वश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘तस्य भक्तेः वशः’ (under the control of devotion to him); विशेषणम् (qualifying अश्वत्थामा)

• स्वप्रतापम्: his own prowess
• स्वप्रतापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-प्रताप (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + प्रताप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• अदर्शयत्: showed / displayed
• अदर्शयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; णिच् (causative) भावः—‘caused to be seen/showed’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Ashvatthama
• Mahadeva (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It teaches that even extraordinary power—whether heroic strength or divine lineage—becomes spiritually meaningful only when governed by bhakti toward Pati, Lord Shiva; devotion disciplines ego and turns power into a vehicle of dharma.

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

By emphasizing “tad-bhakti,” the verse points to Saguna Shiva as the personal Lord who receives devotion; Linga-worship similarly trains the devotee to offer strength, mind, and identity at Shiva’s feet rather than acting from pride.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate Shiva-bhakti through daily Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a simple Linga-puja; dedicate all “pratāpa” (abilities and achievements) to Shiva as an offering, reducing ahaṅkāra and strengthening devotion.