Shloka 13

तपः–मन्त्रजप–ध्यानविधिः

Protocol of Tapas, Mantra-Japa, and Śiva-Dhyāna

Devanagari script

अजुनोपि च तं दृष्ट्वा मूकनामासुरं तदा । स्मृत्वा शिवपदांभोजं विचारे तत्परोऽभवत्

Transliteration

ajunopi ca taṃ dṛṣṭvā mūkanāmāsuraṃ tadā | smṛtvā śivapadāṃbhojaṃ vicāre tatparo'bhavat

Translation

Then Arjuna too, on seeing the asura named Mūka, remembered the lotus-feet of Lord Śiva; and, wholly intent upon that contemplation, he entered into clear deliberation and firm resolve.

Word by Word

• arjunā: by Arjuna
• arjunā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arjuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Tṛtīyā (Instr./3rd), Ekavacana; agent in absolutive construction (kartṛ in gerund context)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (particle: also/even)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (conjunction)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc./2nd), Ekavacana

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), “having seen”

• mūka-nāma: named Mūka
• mūka-nāma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mūka (प्रातिपदिक) + nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc./2nd), Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: “whose name is Mūka” (asuraṃ qualifies)

• asuram: demon
• asuram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc./2nd), Ekavacana

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (temporal adverb)

• smṛtvā: having remembered
• smṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (स्मृ धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), “having remembered”

• śiva-pada-ambhojam: the lotus of Śiva’s feet
• śiva-pada-ambhojam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक) + ambhoja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc./2nd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: “lotus (ambhoja) of the feet (pada) of Śiva”

• vicāre: in reflection/thought
• vicāre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vicāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Saptamī (Loc./7th), Ekavacana

• tat-paraḥ: intent on that
• tat-paraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom./1st), Ekavacana; “intent on that”

• abhavat: became
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Arjuna
• Muka

FAQs

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

It shows that true strength arises from taking refuge in Pati—Lord Shiva—by remembering His lotus-feet; such remembrance steadies the mind, purifies intention, and turns action into dharmic, God-oriented resolve.

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

Remembering Shiva’s “lotus-feet” is Saguna-upāsanā—devotional contemplation of the Lord with attributes—akin to mentally bowing to the Linga as Shiva’s accessible presence before engaging the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Shiva-smaraṇa (remembrance) before action—silently repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while visualizing Shiva’s feet, to enter work or conflict with clarity and restraint.