Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

शिवोपि च तथाभूतञ्ज्ञात्वा पाण्डवमर्जुनम् । निजभक्तवरं स्वामी महातुष्टो बभूव ह

Transliteration

śivopi ca tathābhūtañjñātvā pāṇḍavamarjunam | nijabhaktavaraṃ svāmī mahātuṣṭo babhūva ha

Translation

Śiva too, recognizing Arjuna of the Pāṇḍavas to be such a one, knew him as His own foremost devotee; and that Lord and Master became exceedingly pleased.

Word by Word

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/बल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• भूतम्: become, such (state)
• भूतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having known’

• पाण्डवम्: the Pāṇḍava (son of Pāṇḍu)
• पाण्डवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अर्जुनस्य विशेषणरूपेण

• अर्जुनम्: Arjuna
• अर्जुनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• निज-भक्त-वरम्: his own best devotee
• निज-भक्त-वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘निजस्य भक्तः’ + कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष: ‘भक्तेषु वरः’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• स्वामी: the Lord
• स्वामी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महा-तुष्टः: greatly pleased
• महा-तुष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + तुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (स्वामिनः)

• बभूव: became
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed (expletive)
• ह: Padapurana (पादपूरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्मरणार्थ/पादपूरण (expletive particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Arjuna
• Pandavas

FAQs

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

It highlights that Shiva’s grace arises when He recognizes unwavering devotion; the Lord acknowledges the devotee’s inner sincerity and responds with divine pleasure, indicating the Shaiva path where bhakti draws the Pati’s compassionate favor toward the jīva.

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

The verse presents Saguna Shiva as a personal Lord who perceives and confirms a devotee’s bhakti; Linga-worship similarly trains the devotee in steadiness and surrender, culminating in Shiva’s pleased bestowal of protection and spiritual upliftment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Steady bhakti expressed through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined worship—such as offering with purity, and contemplative remembrance of Shiva—aligns the mind so that grace (anugraha) becomes accessible.