Shloka 44

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

अहं राजश्रिया त्यक्तो गहनं वनमाश्रितः । तथापि हृतराज्यस्य तोषो नैवाभिजायते

Transliteration

ahaṃ rājaśriyā tyakto gahanaṃ vanamāśritaḥ | tathāpi hṛtarājyasya toṣo naivābhijāyate

Translation

Cast off from royal fortune, I have taken refuge in a deep forest; yet even so, for one whose kingdom has been seized, true contentment does not arise at all.

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), उत्तमपुरुषार्थक; एकवचन; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st)

• राजश्रिया: by royal fortune/splendour
• राजश्रिया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजश्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental, 3rd); एकवचन; समासः—राज्ञः श्रीः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpurusha)

• त्यक्तः: abandoned/left
• त्यक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे विशेषणवत् ‘अहम्’ इति संबद्ध

• गहनम्: dense, deep
• गहनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd); एकवचन; ‘वनम्’ इति विशेषण

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd); एकवचन

• आश्रितः: having taken refuge in / resorted to
• आश्रितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; ‘अहम्’ इति संबद्ध

• तथापि: even so, nevertheless
• तथापि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययसमुच्चय/वाक्योपपादक (concessive particle)

• हृतराज्यस्य: of one whose kingdom is taken away
• हृतराज्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृत (हृ धातु + क्त) + राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-आश्रय; षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive, 6th); एकवचन; समासः—हृतं राज्यं यस्य/हृतं राज्यं (कर्मधारयः) ‘हृत-राज्य’ + षष्ठी

• तोषः: contentment, satisfaction
• तोषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st); एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• एव: indeed, at all
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic/limiting particle)

• अभिजायते: arises, is produced
• अभिजायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; भावे/कर्तरि प्रयोग

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a royal lament within the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights that external change—like fleeing to the forest—does not automatically end suffering; dissatisfaction persists while the mind remains bound by loss (pāśa). In Shaiva teaching, lasting peace comes from turning to Pati (Shiva) and cultivating inner detachment, not merely changing circumstances.

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

The verse implies that worldly supports cannot grant stable toṣa (contentment). Linga/Saguna Shiva worship provides a steady refuge for the mind, redirecting identity from ‘kingdom and status’ to devotion and surrender, which gradually loosens bondage and grief.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady breath and remembrance of Shiva as the inner Lord; optionally supported by rudrākṣa japa and bhasma (tripuṇḍra) as aids to vairāgya and mental steadiness.