Shloka 26

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

एकदा स महाराजश्चिंतामाप दुरत्ययाम् । अहो मे हीनभाग्यस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्हीनतेजसः

Transliteration

ekadā sa mahārājaściṃtāmāpa duratyayām | aho me hīnabhāgyasya durbuddherhīnatejasaḥ

Translation

Once, that great king was seized by an overwhelming, hard-to-cross anxiety: “Alas! I am of scant fortune—of misguided understanding and diminished spiritual radiance.”

Word by Word

• एकदा: once
• एकदा: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकदा (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• महाराजः: the great king
• महाराजः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महान् राजा)

• चिन्ताम्: worry, anxiety
• चिन्ताम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आप: attained / fell into
• आप: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: आप् (to obtain/meet)

• दुरत्ययाम्: hard to overcome
• दुरत्ययाम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + अति + इ (धातु) → अत्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of चिन्ता)

• अहो: alas! / oh!
• अहो: सम्बोधन/उद्गार (Exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मयादिबोधक-अव्यय (exclamatory particle)

• मे: of me / my
• मे: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th) एकवचन; सर्वनाम (genitive enclitic)

• हीनभाग्यस्य: of the ill-fated (one)
• हीनभाग्यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन + भाग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; विशेषण (self-description)

• दुर्बुद्धेः: of the foolish-minded (one)
• दुर्बुद्धेः: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; विशेषण

• हीनतेजसः: of the low-splendour (one)
• हीनतेजसः: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (तेजस्), षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana account to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights the pashu-condition: anxiety and self-deprecation arise when divine support is veiled (tirodhāna). Such recognition of one’s limitation becomes the doorway to seeking Śiva’s anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• King

FAQs

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

The verse marks the awakening of self-inquiry: the king recognizes his inner limitation (durbuddhi) and loss of tejas, a sign that karmic bondage (pāśa) is being felt and that the soul is ready to seek Pati (Shiva) for guidance and grace.

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

Such overpowering anxiety is a classic trigger in Purana narratives that turns the mind from worldly supports to Saguna Shiva—approached through Linga worship—so that scattered buddhi becomes steady and tejas is restored through devotion and discipline.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with Linga-dhyāna; if following Shiva Purana observances, add Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for calming the mind and reestablishing inner clarity.