Shloka 38

Svagati-varṇana

Description of the Supreme State / One’s True Attainment

Devanagari script

तेऽभिवाद्य महेशानं परिवार्य्य समंततः । अस्तुवन्विविधैः स्तोत्रैर्महादेवं तदा सुराः

Transliteration

te'bhivādya maheśānaṃ parivāryya samaṃtataḥ | astuvanvividhaiḥ stotrairmahādevaṃ tadā surāḥ

Translation

Then the gods, having bowed in reverence to Maheśāna and standing all around Him on every side, praised Mahādeva with many kinds of hymns.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृपद

• अभिवाद्य: having saluted
• अभिवाद्य: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-वाद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययकृदन्त; √वाद् (to speak/salute) with उपसर्ग अभि; 'having saluted'

• महेशानम्: Maheśāna (Śiva)
• महेशानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• परिवार्य: having surrounded
• परिवार्य: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययकृदन्त; causative sense not required; √वृ (to surround/cover) with उपसर्ग परि; 'having surrounded'

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• समन्ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place): 'on all sides'

• अस्तुवन्: praised
• अस्तुवन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; √स्तु (to praise)

• विविधैः: with various
• विविधैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण (instrumental); विशेषणम् (स्तोत्रैः)

• स्तोत्रैः: hymns
• स्तोत्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म; कर्मधारयः (महान् देवः)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृपद (ते इत्यस्य विशेष्य/अप्पोजिशन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General scene of devas offering stotra to Maheśāna; emphasizes that divine order culminates in praise and seeking Śiva’s anugraha rather than a localized liṅga-origin legend.

Significance: Stotra-sevā as a direct means to invoke Śiva’s grace; encourages communal kīrtana/stotra in temples and tīrthas.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahadeva
• Maheśāna
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed through reverent salutation and stotra as a direct approach to Pati (Shiva), showing that even the devas rely on humble praise and surrender before the Lord.

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

The act of bowing and gathering around Mahadeva mirrors saguna-upasana: devotees approach Shiva in a worshipful, personal form—often ritually reflected in standing near the Linga, offering praise, and honoring Him as the supreme Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice namaskara (prostration), stotra-patha (recitation of hymns), and mindful circumambulation (pradakshina) around Shiva or the Linga, keeping the heart fixed on Mahadeva’s presence.