Shloka 31

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

मामका ये महाशूरा नृपमन्यं भजन्ति ते । पर्वताभा गजा अश्वा वातवद्वेगगामिनः

Transliteration

māmakā ye mahāśūrā nṛpamanyaṃ bhajanti te | parvatābhā gajā aśvā vātavadvegagāminaḥ

Translation

Those great heroes who are mine—if they choose to serve another king—then the elephants, mountain-like, and the horses, swift as the wind, go with them as well.

Word by Word

• मामकाः: my (men/people), belonging to me
• मामकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मामक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); relative pronoun

• महाशूराः: great heroes/valiant men
• महाशूराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाशूर (प्रातिपदिक: महा + शूर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नृपम्: king
• नृपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अन्यम्: another
• अन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भजन्ति: serve/worship/attach themselves to
• भजन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); demonstrative pronoun

• पर्वताभाः: mountain-like (in appearance)
• पर्वताभाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर्वताभ (प्रातिपदिक: पर्वत + आभ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• गजाः: elephants
• गजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अश्वाः: horses
• अश्वाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वातवत्: like the wind
• वातवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वातवत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (simile adverb: 'like the wind')

• वेगगामिनः: moving with speed; swift-going
• वेगगामिनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेगगामिन् (प्रातिपदिक: वेग + गामिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the royal/political episode within Umāsaṃhitā to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

It highlights the instability of worldly supports—power, armies, and wealth follow shifting allegiance—encouraging the seeker to rely on Pati (Lord Shiva) rather than transient political strength.

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

By showing that external forces (people, possessions, power) are contingent, it implicitly points to Saguna Shiva-worship (Linga-bhakti) as a steady refuge, where devotion is not dependent on changing worldly alliances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate steadiness through daily japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple Linga-upāsanā, training the mind not to chase fluctuating external supports.