Shloka 41

उपमन्यूपदेशः

Upamanyu’s Instruction

Devanagari script

देवेन्द्रो हि महाशैवस्त्रैलोक्यं बुभुजे पुरा । शिवानुग्रहतः कृष्ण सर्वदेवाधिपः प्रभुः

Transliteration

devendro hi mahāśaivastrailokyaṃ bubhuje purā | śivānugrahataḥ kṛṣṇa sarvadevādhipaḥ prabhuḥ

Translation

Indeed, Devendra (Indra), being a great devotee of Śiva, formerly enjoyed sovereignty over the three worlds. O Kṛṣṇa, it was by Śiva’s grace that he became the powerful lord and overlord of all the gods.

Word by Word

• देवेन्द्रः: Devendra (Indra)
• देवेन्द्रः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; 'deva-indra' = Indra among gods), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्धसूचक/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• महाशैवः: a great Śaiva (devotee of Śiva)
• महाशैवः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाशैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (Karmadhāraya; 'mahān śaivaḥ' = great devotee of Śiva), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवेन्द्रः-विशेषण

• त्रैलोक्यम्: the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यम्: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (Dvigu; 'three worlds'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• बुभुजे: enjoyed; ruled
• बुभुजे: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb: formerly)

• शिवानुग्रहतः: from Śiva's grace
• शिवानुग्रहतः: अपादान (Apādāna/Source; 'due to/from')
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + अनुग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; 'śiva-anugraha' = Śiva's favor), पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• कृष्ण: O Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्ण: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• सर्वदेवाधिपः: lord of all gods
• सर्वदेवाधिपः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + देव + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; 'sarva-deva-adhipa' = lord of all gods), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवेन्द्रः-समनाधिकरण (apposition)

• प्रभुः: the sovereign, master
• प्रभुः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवेन्द्रः-समनाधिकरण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra
• Devas
• Krishna

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that worldly authority—even Indra’s lordship—arises through Śiva’s anugraha (grace). In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, Śiva as Pati grants upliftment and protection to the bound soul (paśu) when devotion and right orientation mature.

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

It emphasizes Saguna Śiva’s compassionate lordship: through worship (often centered on the Śiva-liṅga), devotees receive Śiva’s prasāda/anugraha that sustains dharma and removes obstacles. The fruit is not merely power, but alignment with Śiva’s will.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate Śiva-bhakti and seek anugraha through daily liṅga-pūjā with pañcākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), optionally with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness and remembrance.