Shloka 65

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

Devanagari script

अर्जुनोपि महावीरस्सुप्रणम्य सुरेश्वरम् । तपस्तेपे संयतात्मा शिवमुद्दिश्य तद्विधम्

Transliteration

arjunopi mahāvīrassupraṇamya sureśvaram | tapastepe saṃyatātmā śivamuddiśya tadvidham

Translation

Arjuna too, that great hero, bowed with deep reverence to the Lord of the gods, and with a disciplined mind performed austerities in the prescribed manner, directing his worship toward Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Modifier (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अव्यय (particle: ‘also/even’)

• महावीरः: great hero
• महावीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् वीरः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• सु-प्रणम्य: having bowed respectfully
• सु-प्रणम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) with उपसर्ग प्र- and उपपद सु-; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having bowed well)

• सुरेश्वरम्: the lord of the gods (Indra)
• सुरेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सुराणाम् ईश्वरः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• तपः: austerity/penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• तेपे: performed (penance)
• तेपे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• संयत-आत्मा: self-controlled
• संयत-आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सं-यम् (धातु) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (संयतः आत्मा यस्य/संयतात्मा); भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘संयत’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object of उद्दिश्य)

• उद्दिश्य: intending/aiming at
• उद्दिश्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक/हेत्वर्थ (having aimed at/with intent toward)

• तद्विधम्: of that kind/such
• तद्विधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तद्विध = तस्य विधः/तदृशः ‘of that kind’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying तपः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Arjuna

FAQs

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

It highlights that Śiva’s grace is approached through humility (praṇāma), inner restraint (saṃyama), and focused tapas—showing the Shaiva path where disciplined effort becomes fruitful when directed to Pati (Śiva), the liberating Lord.

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

The verse emphasizes intentional, method-following worship (“tadvidham”) directed to Śiva, which aligns with Saguna upāsanā—often expressed in the Purāṇa through Linga-worship, mantra-japa, and regulated observances that make devotion concrete and steady.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined tapas supported by mental restraint—commonly practiced as mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), meditation on Śiva, and regulated vows; this verse stresses doing such practice in the enjoined manner rather than casually.