Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

शप्तोहमस्मि देवेश जनन्या तपतांवर । तव प्रसादाच्चरणो न पतेन्मम गोपते

Transliteration

śaptohamasmi deveśa jananyā tapatāṃvara | tava prasādāccaraṇo na patenmama gopate

Translation

I have been cursed, O Lord of the gods, by my mother—the best among ascetics. Yet, by Your grace, O Protector and Lord, may my feet not slip; may I not fall from the path.

Word by Word

• शप्तः: cursed
• शप्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शप्त (कृदन्त, √शप्) क्त
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त — ‘cursed’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देव-ईश: O Lord of gods
• देव-ईश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (देवानाम् ईशः)

• जनन्या: by (my) mother
• जनन्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• तपताम्-वर: O best of ascetics
• तपताम्-वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपत् (कृदन्त, √तप् शतृ) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तपताम् वरः) — ‘best among ascetics’

• तव: of you/your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• प्रसादात्: from (your) grace
• प्रसादात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• चरणः: foot
• चरणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• पतेत्: should fall
• पतेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पत् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• गो-पते: O Lord of cows (protector)
• गो-पते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गवाम् पतिः)

Speaker

A devotee addressing Lord Shiva (within the Uma Samhita narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes Śiva’s prasāda as the decisive factor that prevents spiritual ‘falling’ despite karmic/relational afflictions (śāpa), encouraging refuge (śaraṇāgati).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that even when bound by karma (a curse), the devotee can remain steady through Shiva’s prasāda; the Lord as Pati safeguards the pashu from falling into pasha again.

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

The prayer is direct surrender to Saguna Shiva as Devesha and Gopati; Linga-worship similarly centers on seeking Shiva’s grace to purify karma and stabilize one’s dharma and sadhana.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple takeaway is daily Shiva-prārthanā with Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and humble surrender, asking for steadiness (apramāda) and protection from spiritual lapse.