Shloka 39

Satyavrata, Vasiṣṭha, and the Crisis of Dharma: Protection, Anger, and Vow-Discipline

Devanagari script

आग्नेयं तं महाभागो ह्यमरैरपि दुस्सहम् । जग्राह विधिना प्रीत्या सगरोसौ नृपोत्तमः

Transliteration

āgneyaṃ taṃ mahābhāgo hyamarairapi dussaham | jagrāha vidhinā prītyā sagarosau nṛpottamaḥ

Translation

Aquel ilustre rey Sagara, el más excelso entre los soberanos, recibió con gozo y conforme al rito debido aquella arma ígnea (Agneya), difícil de soportar incluso para los dioses.

Word by Word

• आग्नेयम्: Agneya (fiery)
• आग्नेयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आग्नेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘of Agni / fiery’

• तम्: that (weapon)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• महाभागः: the very fortunate one
• महाभागः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् भागः/भाग्यं यस्य)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/कारणबोधक अव्यय (indeed/for)

• अमरैः: by the immortals (gods)
• अमरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवादबोधक अव्यय (also/even)

• दुस्सहम्: hard to withstand
• दुस्सहम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुः-सह (प्रातिपदिक; दुः + सह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक विशेषण; ‘hard to endure’

• जग्राह: took / seized
• जग्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विधिना: according to rule / duly
• विधिना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• प्रीत्या: with joy
• प्रीत्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• सगरः: Sagara
• सगरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• असौ: that (one)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; deictic pronoun ‘this/that (yonder)’

• नृपोत्तमः: the best of kings
• नृपोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; नृप + उत्तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयभावः (नृपेषु उत्तमः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Sagara
• Devas (Amaras)
• Agni (implied by Agneya weapon)

FAQs

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

It highlights that even great power must be approached through vidhi (right order and sacred discipline); joy joined with proper conduct makes one fit to bear what even the devas find difficult.

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

The stress on vidhinā mirrors Shaiva worship where Saguna Shiva (as Linga) is approached through prescribed upacharas and purity—power and blessing are stabilized by ritual order, not mere ambition.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Follow vidhi in Shaiva sadhana—daily Linga-puja with mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined observances—so spiritual “fire” (tapas/tejas) becomes bearable and transformative.