Shloka 72

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

महामायाप्रभावेण मोहितो दानवोत्तमौ । जजल्पतू रमाकान्तं गृहाण वरमीप्सितम्

Transliteration

mahāmāyāprabhāveṇa mohito dānavottamau | jajalpatū ramākāntaṃ gṛhāṇa varamīpsitam

Translation

Overpowered and deluded by the force of Mahāmāyā, the two foremost among the Dānavas addressed Rāmākānta (Viṣṇu): “Accept the boon you desire.”

Word by Word

• महामाया-प्रभावेण: by the power of the great illusion
• महामाया-प्रभावेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामाया (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महामायायाः प्रभावः) — Instrumental singular, neuter

• मोहितः: deluded
• मोहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुह् (धातु) → मोहित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त — Past passive participle used adjectivally

• दानव-उत्तमौ: the two best of the demons
• दानव-उत्तमौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; कर्मधारयः (उत्तमौ दानवौ) — Nominative dual, masculine

• जजल्पतुः: they spoke
• जजल्पतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जल्‍प् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपदम् — Perfect, 3rd person dual

• रमा-कान्तम्: Rama’s beloved (Viṣṇu)
• रमा-कान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रमा (प्रातिपदिक) + कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रमायाः कान्तः) — Accusative singular, masculine

• गृहाण: accept
• गृहाण: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् — Imperative, 2nd person singular

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular, masculine

• ईप्सितम्: desired
• ईप्सितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आप्/ईप्स् (धातु) → ईप्सित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त — Past passive participle used adjectivally (desired)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; the quoted speech is by the two Dānavas)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Tirodhāna as strategic delusion: the asuras’ minds are turned, enabling restoration of order

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Lakshmi (Rama)
• Mahāmāyā

FAQs

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

It highlights Māyā as a binding power that clouds discrimination; in Shaiva Siddhānta, liberation comes when Pati (Śiva) grants clarity and grace beyond such delusion.

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

The episode underscores that worldly power and boons are unstable under Māyā; Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship trains the mind toward the Supreme Lord as the true refuge beyond deceptive appearances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and steady remembrance helps purify the mind and weaken Māyā’s deluding force.