Shloka 4

Arjuna’s Mantra-Empowerment and the Pāṇḍavas’ Separation (Śiva-rūpa through Mantra)

Devanagari script

इति प्रोच्यार्जुनन्ते वै विरहौत्सुक्यकातराः । अनिच्छन्तोपि तत्रैव प्रेषयामासुरादरात्

Transliteration

iti procyārjunante vai virahautsukyakātarāḥ | anicchantopi tatraiva preṣayāmāsurādarāt

Translation

Having spoken thus to Arjuna, those distressed by the yearning born of separation—though unwilling—respectfully sent him onward from there.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• प्रोच्य: having said
• प्रोच्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+vac (धातु) → procyā (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √वच् with उपसर्ग प्र-; having said

• अर्जुन: O Arjuna
• अर्जुन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arjuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• अन्ते: at the end
• अन्ते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक)

• विरह-उत्सुक्य-कातराः: distressed with longing due to separation
• विरह-उत्सुक्य-कातराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viraha (प्रातिपदिक) + utsukya (प्रातिपदिक) + kātara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); compound qualifying an implied subject; 'distressed due to longing from separation'

• अनिच्छन्तः: not wishing
• अनिच्छन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: na+icch (धातु) → anicchant (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• अपि: even/though
• अपि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), concessive particle (अपि = even/though)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), restrictive particle (अवधारण)

• प्रेषयामासुः: they sent
• प्रेषयामासुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna

FAQs

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

It highlights viraha-bhakti: even painful separation can intensify longing for the Divine, and true devotion acts with humility and duty despite personal reluctance.

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

The mood of yearning and reverent compliance supports Saguna Shiva worship—approaching Shiva (often through the Linga) with heartfelt devotion, discipline, and respect rather than mere emotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate steady remembrance of Shiva through japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya")—especially when feeling separation—while maintaining respectful, dharmic action.