Shloka 39

Śumbha–Niśumbha-pīḍā and Devastuti to Durgā/Śivā

Names and Forms of the Devī

Devanagari script

इति दूतोक्तमाकर्ण्य वचनं शुंभभाषितम् । जगाद सा महामाया भूतेशप्राणवल्लभा

Transliteration

iti dūtoktamākarṇya vacanaṃ śuṃbhabhāṣitam | jagāda sā mahāmāyā bhūteśaprāṇavallabhā

Translation

Hearing thus the messenger’s statement—the words spoken on Śumbha’s behalf—she, the Great Māyā, the beloved of Bhūteśa (Lord Śiva), replied.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उक्तिपरिसमाप्तिसूचक (quotative/thus)

• दूत-उक्तम्: spoken by the messenger
• दूत-उक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक) + वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: दूतस्य उक्तम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (contextually object of hearing; agrees with 'वचनम्' in sense)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + कर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभाव; ‘having heard’

• वचनम्: speech, words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• शुम्भ-भाषितम्: spoken by Śumbha
• शुम्भ-भाषितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + भाष् (धातु) → भाषित (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: शुम्भस्य भाषितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; 'वचनम्' विशेषण

• जगाद: said
• जगाद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• महामाया: the Great Māyā
• महामाया: Karta (कर्ता; अप्पोज़िशन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (उपसर्ग/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महती माया); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; 'सा' के अप्पोज़िशन

• भूतेश-प्राण-वल्लभा: beloved of Bhūteśa’s life-breath (dearest to Bhūteśa)
• भूतेश-प्राण-वल्लभा: Karta (कर्ता; उपाधि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतेश (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + वल्लभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध: भूतेशस्य प्राणानां वल्लभा / or भूतेशस्य प्राणवल्लभा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; उपाधि/विशेषण-रूपेण

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; the immediate reply is by the Goddess/Devī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Shumbha
• Messenger (Duta)

FAQs

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

The verse frames Devī as Mahāmāyā—Śiva’s inseparable power—showing that worldly challenges (asura threats and demands) are met through the sovereign divine will aligned with Bhūteśa, the Lord of all beings.

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

By calling her “Bhūteśa-prāṇa-vallabhā,” the text emphasizes Saguna Śiva’s relational aspect: Śiva is worshiped with His śakti, and devotion to the Liṅga naturally includes reverence for Devī as the manifest power that protects dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” coupled with remembrance of Śiva-Śakti unity—stabilizing the mind when confronted by fear, pressure, or temptation.