Shloka 16

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

पृथिवीं शासतस्तस्य पाकशासनतेजसः । बभूबुर्नव ये भूपाः पृथ्वीग्रहणतत्पराः

Transliteration

pṛthivīṃ śāsatastasya pākaśāsanatejasaḥ | babhūburnava ye bhūpāḥ pṛthvīgrahaṇatatparāḥ

Translation

While that radiant lord—whose splendor rivaled Indra, the chastiser of Pāka—was governing the earth, there arose nine new kings, intent on seizing dominion over the world.

Word by Word

• पृथिवीम्: the earth
• पृथिवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शासतः: (he) rules/governs
• शासतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शास् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमा पुरुष? (3rd person), एकवचन; रूपम्—शासति इत्यर्थे (पाठे 'शासतस्' इति संधि/छन्दोभेदेन)

• तस्य: of him; his
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पाक-शासन-तेजसः: of the splendor of Pākaśāsana (Indra)
• पाक-शासन-तेजसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाकशासन (इन्द्र-नाम, प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पाकशासनस्य तेजः)

• बभूवुः: became; arose
• बभूवुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथम पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• नव: new
• नव: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन (भूपाः इत्यस्य विशेषण)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• भूपाः: kings
• भूपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पृथ्वी-ग्रहण-तत्पराः: intent on seizing the earth
• पृथ्वी-ग्रहण-तत्पराः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथ्वी (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रहण (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पृथ्व्याः ग्रहणे तत्पराः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Indra

FAQs

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

It highlights how worldly power (the urge to “grasp the earth”) repeatedly arises even under a strong ruler—pointing to pasha (bondage) as ambition and possession, which Shaiva teaching asks the seeker to transcend in pursuit of Shiva (Pati).

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

By contrasting political conquest with true sovereignty, it implicitly directs the mind toward Saguna Shiva as the rightful inner Lord; Linga-worship trains the devotee to shift from external acquisition to inner surrender and steadiness in dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to cool the impulse of domination, along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance of impermanence—turning the mind from grasping to devotion.