Shloka 1

Śiva–Arjuna Yuddha and the Subjugation of Pride (Śiva-parīkṣā)

Devanagari script

तमागतन्ततो दृष्ट्वा ध्यानं कृत्वा शिवस्य सः । गत्वा तत्रार्जुनस्तेन युद्धं चक्रे सुदारुणम्

Transliteration

tamāgatantato dṛṣṭvā dhyānaṃ kṛtvā śivasya saḥ | gatvā tatrārjunastena yuddhaṃ cakre sudāruṇam

Translation

Seeing him arrive, Arjuna meditated upon Lord Śiva; then he went there and engaged him in a most fierce battle.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• आगतम्: having come/arrived
• आगतम्: Karma (कर्म; विशेष्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; (tam…āgatam = ‘him who had come’)

• ततः: thereupon/from there
• ततः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादानार्थक/क्रम (from there/thereupon)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकालिक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund); ‘having seen’

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकालिक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund); ‘having done/performed’

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

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

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकालिक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund); ‘having gone’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb; there)

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

• तेन: with him/with that one
• तेन: Sahakarana (सहकारण/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• चक्रे: did/made (waged)
• चक्रे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सुदारुणम्: very fierce
• सुदारुणम्: Karma (कर्म; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण (of युद्धम्); ‘सु’ उपसर्गवत् (intensifier)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Arjuna

FAQs

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

The verse highlights dhyāna of Śiva before action: the devotee first turns to Pati (Lord Śiva) as inner refuge and guiding consciousness, then performs even difficult duties with steadiness.

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

Arjuna’s meditation implies Saguna-upāsanā—contemplating Śiva with form and attributes as the accessible Lord; in Shiva Purana practice this is commonly supported by Linga-worship, where remembrance and offering precede worldly engagement.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A brief Śiva-dhyāna before major undertakings—mentally reciting the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and centering the mind on Śiva—so action proceeds from devotion rather than agitation.