Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

अश्वत्थामावतारस्ते वर्णितश्शंकर प्रभोः । सर्वसिद्धिकरश्चापि भक्ताभीष्टफलप्रदः

Transliteration

aśvatthāmāvatāraste varṇitaśśaṃkara prabhoḥ | sarvasiddhikaraścāpi bhaktābhīṣṭaphalapradaḥ

Translation

Thus has been described to you the incarnation of Lord Śaṅkara as Aśvatthāmā—bestower of every siddhi and granter of the fruits that devotees truly desire.

Word by Word

• अश्वत्थामा-अवतारः: the incarnation of Aśvatthāmā
• अश्वत्थामा-अवतारः: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वत्थामा (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अश्वत्थाम्नः अवतारः)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी) एकवचन (ते = तुभ्यम्)

• वर्णितः: is described
• वर्णितः: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः ‘described’

• शंकर: O Śaṅkara
• शंकर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• प्रभोः: of the Lord
• प्रभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• सर्व-सिद्धि-करः: producer of all attainments
• सर्व-सिद्धि-करः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वासां सिद्धीनां करः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/सम्भावना/अपि-अर्थ (particle: also/even)

• भक्त-अभीष्ट-फल-प्रदः: giver of the devotees’ desired fruits
• भक्त-अभीष्ट-फल-प्रदः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अभीष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भक्तानाम् अभीष्टं फलं प्रदः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Shiva (Sadashiva)

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Hearing/knowing the avatāra narrative is framed as siddhi- and iṣṭaphala-prada, akin to tīrtha-māhātmya benefits.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Ashvatthama

FAQs

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

It affirms Śiva as Pati (the supreme Lord) whose avatāra is narrated for devotion: remembrance of His forms awakens faith, and His grace can confer both inner siddhi (spiritual maturity) and the devotee’s rightful aims.

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

By praising Śaṅkara’s avatāra as a boon-giver, the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā—approaching Śiva in a knowable form (including the Liṅga) so that devotion (bhakti) becomes the channel for receiving His anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Śiva-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with Liṅga worship (water/abhisheka) and sincere bhakti, praying for siddhi as inner purification rather than mere display of powers.