Shloka 20

Śiva–Arjuna Yuddha and the Subjugation of Pride (Śiva-parīkṣā)

Devanagari script

धियेति संविचार्य्यैव साञ्जलिर्नतमस्तकः । प्रणनाम प्रभुं प्रीत्या तदोवाच स खिन्नधीः

Transliteration

dhiyeti saṃvicāryyaiva sāñjalirnatamastakaḥ | praṇanāma prabhuṃ prītyā tadovāca sa khinnadhīḥ

Translation

Reflexionando en su interior—«(esto es) por el poder de la inteligencia y el discernimiento»—se mantuvo con las manos juntas y la cabeza inclinada. Con devoción se postró ante el Señor y luego, aunque su mente seguía turbada, habló.

Word by Word

• धिया: with (his) thought/intellect
• धिया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसूचक (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative particle)

• संविचार्य: having reflected
• संविचार्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+वि+चर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having reflected/considered’

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: सम्बन्ध/विशेषण (Emphasis marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• स: he
• स: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अञ्जलिः: (with) folded hands
• अञ्जलिः: कर्ता (Subject-apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नत-मस्तकः: with bowed head
• नत-मस्तकः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नत (कृदन्त, नम्-धातु) + मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः तत्पुरुषः—‘नतं मस्तकं यस्य’ (head bowed)

• प्रणनाम: bowed down/saluted
• प्रणनाम: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रभुम्: the Lord
• प्रभुम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: करण/हेतु (Means/Cause nuance/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: अधिकरण (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स: he
• स: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• खिन्न-धीः: distressed in mind
• खिन्न-धीः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खिन्न (कृदन्त/विशेषण) + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘खिन्ना धीः यस्य’ (distressed-minded)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; the immediate speaker in the verse is an unnamed devotee addressing Lord Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakshinamurti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta mood of śaraṇāgati (surrender): true approach to Pati (Lord Shiva) is through humility (bowed head), devotion (prītyā), and inner discernment (dhi), even when the mind is troubled.

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

The verse models personal devotion to Saguna Shiva as 'Prabhu'—approaching the Lord with añjali and pranāma, which directly aligns with Linga-worship where the devotee offers reverence, bows, and then voices a prayer or request.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is implied: stand before Shiva (or the Linga) with folded hands (añjali), bow/prostrate (praṇāma), steady the mind with discernment (dhi), and then offer a sincere spoken prayer—especially suitable for Mahashivratri worship.