Shloka 36

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

वैश्य उवाच । समाधिर्नाम वैश्योहं धनिवंशसमुद्भवः । पुत्रदारादिभिस्त्यक्तो धनलोभान्महीपते

Transliteration

vaiśya uvāca | samādhirnāma vaiśyohaṃ dhanivaṃśasamudbhavaḥ | putradārādibhistyakto dhanalobhānmahīpate

Translation

The Vaiśya said: “I am a merchant named Samādhi, born in a wealthy lineage. O lord of the earth, driven by greed for money, my son, wife, and others have cast me out.”

Word by Word

• वैश्यः: the Vaiśya
• वैश्यः: कर्ता (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular masculine

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular perfect

• समाधिः: Samādhi
• समाधिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समाधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular masculine

• नाम: by name
• नाम: सम्बन्ध (Appositive marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-शब्दः (quotative/नामार्थक particle)

• वैश्यः: a Vaiśya
• वैश्यः: प्रत्यय (Predicate nominative/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular masculine

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Pronoun nominative singular

• धनिवंशसमुद्भवः: born from a wealthy lineage
• धनिवंशसमुद्भवः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धनि (प्रातिपदिक) + वंश (प्रातिपदिक) + समुद्भव (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धनिनां वंशः) + उपपद-तत्पुरुष (वंशात् समुद्भवः)

• पुत्रदारादिभिः: by sons, wife, and others
• पुत्रदारादिभिः: करण/हेतु (Agent/Means in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + दार (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (पुत्राः दाराः च) + आदि-समाहार; Instrumental plural

• त्यक्तः: abandoned
• त्यक्तः: कर्म (Patient/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; Past passive participle, nominative singular masculine

• धनलोभात्: due to greed for wealth
• धनलोभात्: हेतु/अपादान (Cause/Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक) + लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान/5th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धनस्य लोभः)

• महीपते: O king
• महीपते: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; Vocative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (महीयाः पतिः)

Speaker

Samādhi (the Vaiśya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

FAQs

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

It shows how dhana-lobha (greed for wealth) becomes a form of pāśa (bondage) that fractures relationships and intensifies suffering, pushing the soul toward viveka (discernment) and ultimately toward seeking Pati (Lord Shiva) as the true refuge.

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

By exposing the instability of worldly supports, the narrative prepares the seeker to turn to Saguna Shiva—worshiped as the Linga—as a steady anchor for devotion, purification of desire, and gradual release from pāśa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is to counter greed and grief with Shaiva sadhana—regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-pūjā, and adopting bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as reminders of renunciation and inner discipline.