Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

प्राणापदमभिप्रेक्ष्य सोर्जुनः क्लेशसंयुतः । उवाच कृष्णं विक्लान्तो नष्टतेजा महाभयः

Transliteration

prāṇāpadamabhiprekṣya sorjunaḥ kleśasaṃyutaḥ | uvāca kṛṣṇaṃ viklānto naṣṭatejā mahābhayaḥ

Translation

Seeing the peril to his very life, Arjuna—overcome with distress—spoke to Kṛṣṇa. Exhausted, his radiance diminished, and seized by great fear, he addressed Him.

Word by Word

• प्राण-आपदम्: a life-threatening danger
• प्राण-आपदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + आपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (आपद्), द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्राणानाम् आपद्)

• अभिप्रेक्ष्य: having looked at / seeing
• अभिप्रेक्ष्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + प्रेक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• क्लेश-संयुतः: afflicted with distress
• क्लेश-संयुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्लेश (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; समास: तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (क्लेशेन संयुतः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कृष्णम्: to Krishna
• कृष्णम्: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (सम्प्रदान/कर्म), एकवचन; here addressee as object of speech

• विक्लान्तः: exhausted
• विक्लान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विक्लान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषण (अर्जुनः)

• नष्ट-तेजाः: whose radiance/strength was lost
• नष्ट-तेजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: यस्य तेजः नष्टम् सः

• महाभयः: greatly fearful
• महाभयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महत् भयम् (great fear)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Krishna

FAQs

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

It shows how, when the bound soul (paśu) is shaken by fear and suffering, it naturally seeks a higher refuge; in Shaiva understanding, such crisis becomes a doorway to surrender and grace, turning outward panic into inward remembrance of the Supreme Lord.

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

Arjuna’s loss of tejas and rise of fear highlights human limitation; worship of Saguna Shiva through the Linga is taught as an accessible support for the mind in संकट (crisis), enabling steadiness, devotion, and the reawakening of divine protection.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

In moments of fear, take refuge in japa—especially the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namah Shivaya)—with calm breathing; if following Shiva Purana practice, accompany it with Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha as aids to steadiness and remembrance.