Shloka 73

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

नारायण उवाच । मयि प्रसन्नौ यदि वां दीयतामेष मे वरः । मम वध्यावुभौ नान्यं युवाभ्यां प्रार्थये वरम्

Transliteration

nārāyaṇa uvāca | mayi prasannau yadi vāṃ dīyatāmeṣa me varaḥ | mama vadhyāvubhau nānyaṃ yuvābhyāṃ prārthaye varam

Translation

Nārāyaṇa said: “If you two are pleased with me, then grant me this boon: let both of you be those whom I may slay. I ask no other boon from you.”

Word by Word

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Nominative singular, masculine

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् — Perfect, 3rd person singular

• मयि: in me / towards me
• मयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Locative singular (in/with regard to me)

• प्रसन्नौ: pleased
• प्रसन्नौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन — Nominative dual, masculine

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध-अव्ययम् (conditional particle) — indeclinable conjunction ‘if’

• वाम्: of you two
• वाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; अत्र षष्ठी (genitive dual) ‘of you two’ — Genitive dual

• दीयताम्: let (it) be given
• दीयताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्/कर्मणि प्रयोगः — Passive imperative ‘let it be given’

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Nominative singular, masculine

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Genitive singular ‘my’

• वरः: boon
• वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Nominative singular, masculine

• मम: of me / my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Genitive singular

• वध्यौ: slayable / to be killed
• वध्यौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध्य (प्रातिपदिक; √वध् ‘to kill’ से)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन — Nominative dual, masculine; ‘to be slain’

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन — Nominative dual, masculine

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम् (negation particle) — ‘not’

• अन्यम्: anything else
• अन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular, neuter (‘anything else’)

• युवाभ्याम्: from you two
• युवाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन — Instrumental dual (‘by you two/from you two’)

• प्रार्थये: I ask/request
• प्रार्थये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्थ् (धातु) उपसर्ग-प्र (प्रार्थयति)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम् — Present, 1st person singular

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

Speaker

Narayana (Vishnu)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: mayi prasannau yadi vāṃ dīyatāmeṣa me varaḥ | mama vadhyāvubhau nānyaṃ yuvābhyāṃ prārthaye varam

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Turning point where delusion yields to a providential ‘boon’ mechanism, enabling restoration of cosmic order

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Narayana

FAQs

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

The verse highlights total surrender to divine order: even Nārāyaṇa asks only for what serves the cosmic purpose, showing that true greatness aligns personal desire with dharma and the will of the Supreme (Pati).

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

In the Shiva Purana’s theistic frame, such dialogues underline that all devas act within Shiva’s overarching governance; Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship cultivates the same orientation—offering ego and preference into the higher will that sustains and dissolves the cosmos.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is bhakti as surrender: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a mental offering of one’s wishes into Shiva’s hands, optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of renunciation and steadiness.