Shloka 39

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

राजोवाच । निष्कासितो यैः पुत्राद्यैर्दुर्वृत्तैर्धनगर्धिभिः । तेषु किं भवता प्रीतिः क्रियते मूर्खजन्तुवत्

Transliteration

rājovāca | niṣkāsito yaiḥ putrādyairdurvṛttairdhanagardhibhiḥ | teṣu kiṃ bhavatā prītiḥ kriyate mūrkhajantuvat

Translation

The King said: “You have been driven out by those wicked sons and relatives, greedy for wealth. Why, then, do you still show affection toward them—like a foolish creature?”

Word by Word

• राजा: the king
• राजा: कर्ता (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

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

• निष्कासितः: driven out, expelled
• निष्कासितः: कर्म (Patient/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निस्+कास्/कासय् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; Past passive participle, nominative singular masculine

• यैः: by whom
• यैः: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; Relative pronoun instrumental plural

• पुत्राद्यैः: by sons and the like
• पुत्राद्यैः: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; आदि-समास (पुत्राः आदयः)

• दुर्वृत्तैः: by the ill-conducted
• दुर्वृत्तैः: विशेषण (Qualifier of agents/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + वृत्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (दुष्टं वृत्तं येषां/दुष्टवृत्ताः) प्रयोगे विशेषणवत्

• धनगर्धिभिः: by those greedy for wealth
• धनगर्धिभिः: विशेषण (Qualifier of agents/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक) + गर्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धनस्य गर्धिनः = greedy for wealth)

• तेषु: towards/in them
• तेषु: अधिकरण (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th), बहुवचन; Locative plural

• किम्: what? why?
• किम्: प्रश्न (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Interrogative pronoun (here adverbial ‘why/what’)

• भवता: by you
• भवता: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; Honorific pronoun instrumental singular

• प्रीतिः: affection
• प्रीतिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular feminine

• क्रियते: is done, is shown
• क्रियते: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), 3rd person singular

• मूर्खजन्तुवत्: like a foolish creature
• मूर्खजन्तुवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मूर्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (simile marker ‘-वत्’), तत्पुरुष-पूर्वपद (मूर्खजन्तु)

Speaker

The King (Rājā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It critiques blind attachment (rāga) to those who act through greed and adharma, pointing to pasha (bondage) that keeps the pashu (bound soul) from turning toward Pati (Shiva) and liberation.

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

By exposing the pain caused by worldly clinging, the verse prepares the mind for Saguna Shiva-bhakti—seeking refuge in Shiva as the stable support—rather than seeking security in unreliable, desire-driven relationships.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is cultivation of vairagya and Shiva-smaraṇa: steady japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to loosen attachment and redirect affection toward the liberating Lord.