Shloka 21

Devanagari script

अर्जुन उवाच देवदेव महादेव करुणाकर शंकर । ममापराधः सर्वेश क्षन्तव्यश्च त्वया पुनः

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca devadeva mahādeva karuṇākara śaṃkara | mamāparādhaḥ sarveśa kṣantavyaśca tvayā punaḥ

Translation

Arjuna said: O God of gods, O Mahādeva, O Śaṅkara, ocean of compassion—O Lord of all—whatever offense I have committed, may it indeed be forgiven by You, once again.

Word by Word

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

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देव-देव: O God of gods
• देव-देव: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘देवानां देवः’

• महादेव: O Mahādeva
• महादेव: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘महान् देवः’

• करुणा-कर: O compassionate one
• करुणा-कर: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करुणा (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘करुणां करोति/करः’ (bestower of compassion)

• शंकर: O Śaṅkara
• शंकर: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपराधः: offence/fault
• अपराधः: कर्ता/विषय (Topic/कर्ता-स्थानी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपराध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्व-ईश: O Lord of all
• सर्व-ईश: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘सर्वस्य ईशः’

• क्षन्तव्यः: should be forgiven
• क्षन्तव्यः: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षम् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Gerundive/obligatory passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be forgiven’

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/पुनरावृत्ति (again)

Speaker

Arjuna

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models śaraṇāgati: confession and plea for kṣamā is treated as a direct doorway to Śiva’s anugraha, the liberating act that cuts pāśa.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: devadeva mahādeva karuṇākara śaṃkara | mamāparādhaḥ sarveśa kṣantavyaś ca tvayā punaḥ

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Arjuna

FAQs

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

This verse highlights śaraṇāgati (surrender) and kṣamā-yācñā (seeking forgiveness): the bound soul (paśu) turns to Pati (Śiva) as the compassionate Lord who loosens pāśa (bondage) through grace when humility and repentance arise.

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

Addressing Śiva by names like Devadeva and Śaṅkara reflects Saguna devotion—approaching the Lord with attributes of compassion and lordship. In Liṅga worship, this becomes a direct inner confession before the Liṅga, trusting Śiva’s prasāda (grace) to purify faults.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily repentance with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a simple prayer for kṣamā after pūjā; offering bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and maintaining a humble mind strengthens the bhakti that this verse embodies.