Shloka 15

युद्धप्रस्थान-वर्णनम्

Departure to the Battlefield and the Śaiva Overlordship over the Devas

Devanagari script

इति व्यवसितौ वीरौ मिलितौ वीरमानिनौ । तत्परौ तत्परीक्षार्थं प्रतस्थातेऽथ सत्वरम्

Transliteration

iti vyavasitau vīrau militau vīramāninau | tatparau tatparīkṣārthaṃ pratasthāte'tha satvaram

Translation

Thus resolved, the two valiant heroes—each proud of his heroism—came together; intent upon that very purpose and wishing to test it, they then set out swiftly.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-sūcaka (वाक्यार्थसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• vyavasitau: resolved/determined
• vyavasitau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ava-sā (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त) used adjectivally, Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• vīrau: the two heroes
• vīrau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• militau: having met/joined
• militau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mil (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त) used adjectivally, Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• vīra-māninau: considering themselves heroes
• vīra-māninau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + mānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वीर इति मानिनौ)

• tat-parau: intent on that
• tat-parau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तस्मिन् परौ/तत्परौ)

• tat-parīkṣā-artham: for the purpose of testing that
• tat-parīkṣā-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + parīkṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः; प्रयोजनार्थे द्वितीया (purpose accusative)

• pratasthāte: set out/departed
• pratasthāte: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-sthā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), sequential

• satvaram: quickly/hastily
• satvaram: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The rivalry (vīramāna) becomes a test (parīkṣā): Brahmā and Viṣṇu set out to verify their claims by finding the limits of the jyoti-stambha—an experiment destined to fail before the infinite.

Significance: Warns against ahaṃkāra in spiritual striving; ‘testing the Absolute’ by egoic effort alone leads to exhaustion, preparing receptivity to anugraha.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmic contest-transformed-into-quest: the ‘parīkṣā’ motif frames the impending demonstration of infinitude (ananta) and the limitation of divine offices (Brahmā/Viṣṇu) before Śiva.

FAQs

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

It highlights how firm resolve and the urge to “test” one’s claim can be driven by vīra-māna (pride). In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such pride is a pasha (bond) that must be refined into humility and God-oriented intent under Pati (Shiva).

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

Though the verse is narrative, its inner teaching supports Saguna Shiva worship: actions and power are to be offered to Shiva rather than used for self-assertion. Linga-oriented devotion trains the mind to shift from egoic testing to surrender and right purpose.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to begin any undertaking with Shiva-smarana and mantra-japa—especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—so determination becomes dharmic focus rather than pride-driven haste.