Shloka 78

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

यदिच्छावैभवं सर्वं तस्या देहग्रहः स्मृतः । लीलया सापि भक्तानां गुणवर्णनहेतवे

Transliteration

yadicchāvaibhavaṃ sarvaṃ tasyā dehagrahaḥ smṛtaḥ | līlayā sāpi bhaktānāṃ guṇavarṇanahetave

Translation

All this is the splendor of Her will; therefore Her taking on a body is spoken of in this way. Even that embodiment, by Her divine līlā, is for the sake of devotees, so that Her qualities may be described and contemplated.

Word by Word

• यत्: whatever/that which
• यत्: Karta/Viṣaya (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• इच्छावैभवम्: the power/manifestation of (her) will
• इच्छावैभवम्: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इच्छा + वैभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• देहग्रहः: assumption of a body
• देहग्रहः: Karta/Viṣaya (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्मृतः: is said/remembered
• स्मृतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is considered/remembered’

• लीलया: playfully/as a sport
• लीलया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-भाव (instrumental: by/as)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• भक्तानाम्: of devotees
• भक्तानाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• गुणवर्णनहेतवे: for the purpose of describing (her) qualities
• गुणवर्णनहेतवे: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण + वर्णन + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; प्रयोजन (for the sake of)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (in Umāsaṃhitā’s philosophical instruction regarding Devī’s manifestation)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A doctrinal statement: the universe is the vaibhava of Devī’s icchā; embodiment is līlā for bhaktas’ guṇa-varṇana—more theology than place-legend.

Significance: Directs devotees to interpret divine embodiment as compassionate pedagogy: form enables nāma-rūpa-based worship leading toward realization beyond form.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that Devī’s embodied form is not a limitation but a manifestation of divine will (icchā-vaibhava), arising as līlā so devotees can meaningfully praise, remember, and meditate on Her auspicious qualities—supporting bhakti that leads toward liberation.

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

Just as the formless Supreme is approached through the Linga and other saguna supports, Devī’s embodiment is presented as a compassionate, accessible mode for devotion—so the mind can hold divine attributes (guṇas) and progress from form-based worship toward realization of the transcendent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice guṇa-kīrtana (praise of divine qualities) and nāma-japa—especially steady mantra repetition such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—using a chosen saguna form (Śiva-Śakti) as the focus for meditation.