Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 17

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Meets Lord Śiva: Devotee as Living Tīrtha and the Lord’s Māyā

Devanagari script

नम: शिवाय शान्ताय सत्त्वाय प्रमृडाय च । रजोजुषेऽथ घोराय नमस्तुभ्यं तमोजुषे ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

namaḥ śivāya śāntāya sattvāya pramṛḍāya ca rajo-juṣe ’tha ghorāya namas tubhyaṁ tamo-juṣe

Translation

Sans cesse je T’offre mes hommages, ô Śiva, paisible et tout-auspicious. Comme maître de la bonté tu donnes la joie; au contact de la passion tu parais redoutable; et à Toi aussi, lié à l’ignorance, je me prosterne.

Synonyms

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/utterance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (indeclinable interjection), नमस्कारार्थक

• शिवाय: to Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• शान्ताय: to the peaceful one
• शान्ताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सत्त्वाय: to (the principle of) goodness
• सत्त्वाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• प्रमृडाय: to the gracious/beneficent one
• प्रमृडाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमृड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; शिव-पर्याय

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• रजः-जुषे: to the one associated with rajas
• रजः-जुषे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रजस् + जुष् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रजसः जुषः = रजः सेवमानः); ‘जुष्’ धातोः कृदन्त (present participial stem ‘जुष्/जुष’ as ‘one who resorts to’)

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/adverb) ‘then/also’

• घोराय: to the terrible one
• घोराय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; विशेषण

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/utterance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (indeclinable interjection), नमस्कारार्थक

• तुभ्यम्: to you
• तुभ्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तमः-जुषे: to the one associated with tamas
• तमः-जुषे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तमस् + जुष् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तमसः जुषः); ‘one who resorts to tamas’

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Rudra)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Shiva and the three guṇas?

This verse offers obeisances to Śiva in his varied functions as he is seen in relation to goodness (peaceful and merciful), passion (fearsome energy), and ignorance—acknowledging his presence across all three modes.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe Shiva as both peaceful and fearsome?

Because Śiva is revered as auspicious and tranquil for devotees, yet he also presides over formidable, transformative aspects of cosmic administration; the verse honors him in all these roles.

Practical application of honoring the three guṇas in modern life?

Recognize how goodness, passion, and ignorance influence your mind and choices; cultivate sattva (clarity and peace) through devotion and discipline, while respectfully understanding the disruptive forces you must transform or avoid.