Shloka 34

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

दुर्मना लक्ष्यसे कस्मादेतन्मे ब्रूहि साम्प्रतम् । इत्याकर्ण्य वचो रम्यं नरपालेन भाषितम्

Transliteration

durmanā lakṣyase kasmādetanme brūhi sāmpratam | ityākarṇya vaco ramyaṃ narapālena bhāṣitam

Translation

“Why do you appear so downcast? Tell me this right now.” Hearing these pleasing words spoken by the king, the other prepared to reply.

Word by Word

• दुर्मनाः: sad/dejected
• दुर्मनाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्मनस् (प्रातिपदिक: दुर् + मनस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• लक्ष्यसे: you appear/are perceived
• लक्ष्यसे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि/भावे-प्रायः: 'you appear/are seen'

• कस्मात्: from what cause/why
• कस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular); interrogative

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मे: to me / for me
• मे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) एकवचन (Singular); enclitic

• ब्रूहि: tell (me)
• ब्रूहि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• साम्प्रतम्: now/at present
• साम्प्रतम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साम्प्रतम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + √कर्ण्/√श्रु (धातु; कृदन्त: ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग (gerund/absolutive): 'having heard'

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• रम्यम्: pleasant/charming
• रम्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• नरपालेन: by the king (protector of men)
• नरपालेन: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरपाल (प्रातिपदिक: नर + पाल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• भाषितम्: spoken/said
• भाषितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

A king (narapāla) addressing another person in the narrative (as relayed within Umāsaṃhitā’s discourse).

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It highlights a dharmic impulse: noticing inner suffering and asking its cause. In a Shaiva Siddhanta frame, such inquiry becomes the first step toward loosening pāśa (bondage) by bringing hidden sorrow into conscious understanding.

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

Though the verse is narrative, it supports Saguna Shiva worship indirectly: devotion begins with honest recognition of duḥkha and seeking guidance, which later ripens into taking refuge in Śiva as Pati, the compassionate Lord who removes bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is self-inquiry before worship: sit briefly, observe the mind’s heaviness, and then offer it to Śiva with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), asking for clarity and steadiness.