Shloka 71

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

ताभ्यां प्रववृत्ते युद्धं विष्णोरतुलतेजसः । पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि बाहुयुद्धमभूत्तदा

Transliteration

tābhyāṃ pravavṛtte yuddhaṃ viṣṇoratulatejasaḥ | pañcavarṣasahasrāṇi bāhuyuddhamabhūttadā

Translation

Then a battle began between those two and Viṣṇu of incomparable splendor; at that time, a hand-to-hand combat ensued that lasted for five thousand years.

Word by Word

• ताभ्याम्: by those two (demons)
• ताभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), द्विवचन

• प्रववृत्ते: arose/began
• प्रववृत्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता; घटना-कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• अतुलतेजसः: of incomparable splendor
• अतुलतेजसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतुल (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (अतुलं तेजो यस्य सः) विशेषणं ‘विष्णोः’

• पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि: for five thousand years
• पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण; परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (पञ्चवर्षाणां सहस्राणि = five-thousand years) कालपरिमाण

• बाहुयुद्धम्: arm-to-arm combat
• बाहुयुद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता; विधेय-नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक) + युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (बाहुभिः/बाहूनां युद्धम्)

• अभूत्: was/occurred
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Mythic time dilation (5,000 years) emphasizing cosmic-scale struggle within māyā-bound temporality

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes the vast scale of cosmic conflict and implies that even the most radiant divine powers remain within the play of time until higher Shaiva wisdom—turning toward Pati (Śiva) as the supreme liberator—dissolves rivalry and limitation.

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

By portraying prolonged struggle even among exalted beings, the narrative indirectly points devotees to Saguna Śiva worship (including the Linga) as a stabilizing refuge—where devotion and surrender replace competitive power and lead toward grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to pacify inner conflict through japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyāna on Śiva, supported by traditional Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to discipline and remembrance.