Shloka 29

Munipraśna-varṇana

Description of the Sages’ Inquiry

Devanagari script

सुभूपाकृतयो दंभाः सुदातारो महामदाः । विप्रादीन्सेवकान्मत्वा मन्यमाना निजं प्रभुम्

Transliteration

subhūpākṛtayo daṃbhāḥ sudātāro mahāmadāḥ | viprādīnsevakānmatvā manyamānā nijaṃ prabhum

Translation

Those hypocrites assumed the airs of noble kings; though they made ostentatious gifts, they grew intoxicated with immense pride. Treating even brāhmaṇas and others as servants, they imagined themselves to be lords in their own right.

Word by Word

• सुभूपाकृतयः: those with the appearance of good kings
• सुभूपाकृतयः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + भूप + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—सु(उपसर्ग/उपपद) + भूप (राजा) + आकृति (रूप) → ‘राजवत्-रूपाः’

• दंभाः: hypocrites/pretenders
• दंभाः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सुदातारः: very generous givers
• सुदातारः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + दातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—सु(श्रेष्ठ) + दातारः (givers)

• महामदाः: greatly arrogant
• महामदाः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + मद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—महान् मदः (great arrogance/intoxication)

• विप्रादीन्: brahmins and others
• विप्रादीन्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘विप्र-आदि’ (brahmins and others)

• सेवकान्: servants
• सेवकान्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• मत्वा: having considered
• मत्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having thought/considered’

• मन्यमानाः: thinking/considering
• मन्यमानाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• निजम्: one’s own
• निजम्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘प्रभुम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• प्रभुम्: lord/master
• प्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: In the Kāśī/Viśveśvara horizon, kingship and patronage are to be instruments of dharma and Śiva-sevā; the verse condemns Kali-yuga pride where donors and rulers treat spiritual authorities as servants, usurping ‘lordship’ that belongs to Pati alone.

Significance: Darśana of Viśveśvara is a corrective to ahaṅkāra: it reasserts Śiva as the only true Prabhu, dissolving the donor’s pride and restoring right patronage and humility.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga: ahaṅkāra as a mode of bondage (pāśa) leading to dharma erosion

FAQs

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

It warns that outward status and even public charity become spiritually empty when fueled by dambha (hypocrisy) and mada (ego). In Shaiva Siddhanta, liberation arises through humility and surrender to Pati (Shiva), not by imagining oneself the master.

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee to recognize Shiva as the true Prabhu and oneself as dependent. This verse critiques the opposite attitude—treating others as servants and claiming lordship—an ego that blocks genuine devotion to Saguna Shiva and reverence for the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice humble japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with an attitude of śaraṇāgati (surrender), and give dāna quietly without display—using worship (pūjā) to dissolve pride rather than strengthen it.