Shloka 18

Saṃjñā–Chāyā Upākhyāna: Sūrya-tejas, Substitution, and the Birth of Manu, Yama, and Yamunā

Devanagari script

भृशं शाप भयोद्विग्नस्संज्ञावाक्यैर्विचेष्टितः । मात्रा स्नेहेन सर्वेषु वर्तितव्यं सुतेषु वै

Transliteration

bhṛśaṃ śāpa bhayodvignassaṃjñāvākyairviceṣṭitaḥ | mātrā snehena sarveṣu vartitavyaṃ suteṣu vai

Translation

Greatly shaken by fear of a curse, he sought to manage the matter through hints and indirect words. Truly, a mother should act with loving affection toward all her children equally.

Word by Word

• भृशम्: excessively, greatly
• भृशम्: विशेषण (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृश (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• शाप: curse
• शाप: हेतु/निमित्त (Cause/occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• भय-उद्विग्नः: agitated due to fear
• भय-उद्विग्नः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्विग्न (कृदन्त, √उद्+विज्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भयेन उद्विग्नः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Singular)

• संज्ञा-वाक्यैः: by signal-words / by agreed words
• संज्ञा-वाक्यैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (संज्ञायाः वाक्यानि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Plural)

• विचेष्टितः: made to act / behaved (in a certain way)
• विचेष्टितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+चेष्टित (कृदन्त, √चेष्ट्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Singular)

• मात्रा: by the mother
• मात्रा: करण (Instrument/Agentive instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Feminine, Instrumental, Singular)

• स्नेहेन: with affection
• स्नेहेन: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Singular)

• सर्वेषु: among all
• सर्वेषु: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन (Locative, Plural)

• वर्तितव्यम्: should be behaved/treated
• वर्तितव्यम्: विधेय (Predicate/obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृत् (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (तव्यत्) = विधिलिङ्गार्थक-कर्तव्यता; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Gerundive: ‘should be conducted/behaved’)

• सुतेषु: towards the sons/children
• सुतेषु: अधिकरण (Domain/with regard to)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन (Masculine, Locative, Plural)

• वै: indeed, surely
• वै: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/emphasis)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It teaches that fear-driven, indirect conduct is unstable, while dharmic steadiness is shown through impartial affection—an inner discipline that supports purity of mind, which Shaiva teaching treats as necessary for grace (anugraha) and liberation.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not only ritual but character-formation: even-minded love and fairness reflect the devotee’s readiness for Saguna Shiva’s grace, making devotion (bhakti) truthful rather than merely external.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice even-mindedness during japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering the same goodwill to all; this inner vrata complements outer observances like Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha by aligning conduct with devotion.