Shloka 42

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

स वैश्यराजसहितो नरराजः प्रतापवान् । प्रणनाम महावीरः शिरसा योगिनां वरम्

Transliteration

sa vaiśyarājasahito nararājaḥ pratāpavān | praṇanāma mahāvīraḥ śirasā yogināṃ varam

Translation

That mighty and valorous king of men, accompanied by the king of the Vaiśyas, bowed down with his head to the foremost of yogins—acknowledging him as the higher spiritual authority.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• vaiśya-rāja-sahitaḥ: accompanied by the Vaiśya king
• vaiśya-rāja-sahitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaiśya (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + sahita (कृदन्त; √sah सह्/√i?; here adjectival ‘accompanied’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘सहित’ = accompanied/with

• nara-rājaḥ: king of men
• nara-rājaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• pratāpa-vān: mighty, valorous
• pratāpa-vān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + -vant (वन् प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; वन्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• praṇanāma: bowed down
• praṇanāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (नम् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• mahā-vīraḥ: the great hero
• mahā-vīraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• śirasā: with (his) head
• śirasā: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• yoginām: of yogins
• yoginām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• varam: the best, the excellent one
• varam: Karma (कर्म/object of bowing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva ideal that worldly sovereignty must submit to spiritual sovereignty: true greatness is shown through humility and reverence to the highest yogic realization aligned with Pati (Shiva).

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

Honoring the foremost yogin reflects honoring Shiva’s Saguna presence as the supreme Guru; devotion expressed through bowing (praṇāma) is a key limb of Linga-centered bhakti and reverence to Shiva’s representatives.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice reverential namaskāra with a surrendered mind—ideally alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative humility before Shiva as the inner Guru.