Shloka 12

उपमन्यूपदेशः

Upamanyu’s Instruction

Devanagari script

कुशद्वीपे शुभं राज्यमददाद्भगवान्भवः । स तस्मै शङ्करः प्रीत्या वासुदेव प्रहृष्टधीः

Transliteration

kuśadvīpe śubhaṃ rājyamadadādbhagavānbhavaḥ | sa tasmai śaṅkaraḥ prītyā vāsudeva prahṛṣṭadhīḥ

Translation

In Kuśadvīpa, the Blessed Lord Bhava (Śiva) granted him an auspicious kingdom. That Śaṅkara, delighted in mind, lovingly bestowed it upon him, O Vāsudeva.

Word by Word

• kuśadvīpe: in Kuśadvīpa
• kuśadvīpe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśa (प्रातिपदिक) + dvīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (kuśasya dvīpaḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular masculine

• śubham: auspicious; excellent
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular neuter agreeing with 'rājyam'

• rājyam: kingdom; sovereignty
• rājyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular neuter

• adadāt: gave
• adadāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular masculine

• bhavaḥ: Bhava (Śiva)
• bhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular masculine (epithet of Śiva)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular pronoun

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; Dative singular

• śaṅkaraḥ: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• śaṅkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular masculine

• prītyā: with affection; out of love
• prītyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (cause/manner)

• vāsudeva: O Vāsudeva
• vāsudeva: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular (address)

• prahṛṣṭadhīḥ: whose mind was delighted
• prahṛṣṭadhīḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-hṛṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिः (prahṛṣṭā dhīḥ yasya saḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular masculine qualifying 'śaṅkaraḥ/saḥ'

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma-samhita account to the sages; 'O Vāsudeva' indicates the verse is framed as a narration addressed to Vasudeva within the story)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhava
• Shankara
• Vasudeva

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati (the supreme Lord) whose anugraha (grace) establishes auspicious order—worldly sovereignty is shown as ultimately dependent on the Lord’s benevolent will, not merely human effort.

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

The verse depicts Saguna Śiva (Bhava/Śaṅkara) acting compassionately in the world; in Linga worship, devotees approach this same benevolent Lord for dharma-aligned prosperity and, beyond that, liberation through His grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is bhakti with humility—daily Shiva-puja or Linga-abhisheka while reciting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), coupled with dharmic conduct, to seek Śiva’s anugraha.