Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

ततस्स कृष्णः प्रीतात्मा पाण्डवान्सकलानपि । अपातयत्तदंघ्र्योस्तु तुष्टये तस्य शैवराट्

Transliteration

tatassa kṛṣṇaḥ prītātmā pāṇḍavānsakalānapi | apātayattadaṃghryostu tuṣṭaye tasya śaivarāṭ

Translation

Then Kṛṣṇa, his heart filled with joy, made all the Pāṇḍavas bow down at the feet of that sovereign devotee of Śiva, in order to please him.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/काल-अव्यय (adverb: then/thereafter)

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

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रीतात्मा: one whose heart was pleased
• प्रीतात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीत (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (प्रीतः आत्मा यस्य सः)

• पाण्डवान्: the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• सकलान्: all
• सकलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (पाण्डवान्)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• अपातयत्: caused (them) to fall/prostrate
• अपातयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव+पत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-अर्थे (causative sense: caused to fall)

• तत्: his/that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अङ्घ्र्योः)

• अङ्घ्र्योः: at the two feet
• अङ्घ्र्योः: Adhikarana/Sambandha (अधिकरण/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; अत्र षष्ठी (तत्-अङ्घ्र्योः = तस्य पादयोः)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारण-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• तुष्टये: for (his) satisfaction
• तुष्टये: Sampradana/Purpose (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• शैवराट्: the Śaiva king/lord
• शैवराट्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैवराट् (प्रातिपदिक: शैव+राट्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (शैवः राट्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Pashupatinatha

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Pandavas
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that reverence to Śiva’s devotees is itself a form of Śiva-bhakti; humility and prostration before the Shaiva exemplify the devotee’s path that attracts Śiva’s grace.

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

In Shaiva tradition, honoring those established in Saguna Śiva worship (ritual devotion, service, and surrender) is considered honoring Śiva Himself, strengthening one’s orientation toward Linga-worship and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice namaskāra (prostration) with bhakti, and cultivate sevā to Śiva-bhaktas; as a simple daily discipline, repeat the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with humility.