Shloka 37

Arjuna–Gaṇa Saṃvāda: Bāṇādhikāra, Tāpasa-veṣa, and the Ethics of Tapas (अर्जुन-गणसंवादः)

Devanagari script

स किरातेश्वरः श्रुत्वा तद्वचो हर्षमागतः । आजगाम स्वसैन्येन शंकरो भिल्लरूपधृक्

Transliteration

sa kirāteśvaraḥ śrutvā tadvaco harṣamāgataḥ | ājagāma svasainyena śaṃkaro bhillarūpadhṛk

Translation

Hearing those words, Kirāteśvara was filled with joy. Then Śaṅkara arrived with His own retinue, assuming the form of a Bhilla— a tribal hunter—revealing His saguna līlā for the fulfillment of the unfolding divine purpose.

Word by Word

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

• किरातेश्वरः: lord of the Kirātas
• किरातेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता) (सः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरात (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (किरातानाम् ईश्वरः)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण) (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रुत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): 'having heard'

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (वचः इत्यस्य)

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म) (श्रुत्वा इत्यस्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हर्षम्: joy
• हर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (आगतः इत्यत्र) प्राप्ति-वाचक कर्म

• आगतः: having attained (joy)
• आगतः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु) → आगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'having come/attained'

• आजगाम: came
• आजगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• स्वसैन्येन: with his own army
• स्वसैन्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (स्वं सैन्यम्)

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara
• शङ्करः: Karta (कर्ता) (आजगाम इत्यस्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भिल्लरूपधृक्: bearing the form of a Bhilla
• भिल्लरूपधृक्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (शङ्करः इत्यस्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिल्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + धृक्/धृ (धातु-निष्पन्न प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (भिल्लस्य रूपं धारयति इति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It shows Shiva’s compassionate saguna manifestation: the limitless Pati (Lord) freely adopts a humble, approachable form to guide beings and accomplish dharma, emphasizing grace over mere worldly power.

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

While the Linga points to Shiva’s nirguna transcendence, this verse highlights His saguna accessibility—Shiva can be worshipped both as the formless supreme reality and as the personal Lord who enters history through līlā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva’s chosen form (dhyāna) while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating humility and receptivity to grace—key attitudes in Shaiva devotion.