Shloka 4

शिवानुकम्पा, ब्रह्मणो निर्भयत्वं च (Śiva’s Compassion and Brahmā’s Fearlessness)

Devanagari script

नतस्कंधास्सांजलयः प्रणेमुर्निखिलाश्च ते । तुष्टुवुश्शंकरं भक्त्या चक्रुर्जयरवं मुदा

Transliteration

nataskaṃdhāssāṃjalayaḥ praṇemurnikhilāśca te | tuṣṭuvuśśaṃkaraṃ bhaktyā cakrurjayaravaṃ mudā

Translation

Les épaules courbées et les mains jointes en révérence, tous se prosternèrent. Avec dévotion ils louèrent Śaṅkara et, dans la joie, poussèrent des cris de victoire.

Word by Word

• nata-skandhāḥ: with bowed shoulders (i.e., bowed down)
• nata-skandhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nata (कृदन्त; √nam) + skandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘नतौ स्कन्धौ यस्य’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• sāṃjalayaḥ: with folded hands
• sāṃjalayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘स-अञ्जलिः’ = having joined palms), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• praṇemuḥ: bowed down
• praṇemuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + nam (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• nikhilāḥ: all (entire)
• nikhilāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nikhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; te इति विशेषणम्

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

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• tuṣṭuvuḥ: praised
• tuṣṭuvuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: stu (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• śaṃkaram: Śaṅkara
• śaṃkaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• cakruḥ: made/raised
• cakruḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• jaya-ravam: a cry of victory
• jaya-ravam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaya (प्रातिपदिक) + rava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय-प्रायः: ‘जय इति रवः’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General bhakti-response scene (praṇāma and jaya-ghoṣa) rather than a jyotirliṅga origin.

Significance: Models proper devotional comportment—añjali, praṇāma, stuti—seen as conduits for Śiva’s grace and inner purification.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva path of bhakti and śaraṇāgati (surrender): humility (bowed shoulders), reverence (añjali), and heartfelt praise draw the Lord’s auspicious grace (anugraha) toward the devotee.

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

The verse describes classic Saguna-Śiva worship—physical gestures of devotion (namaskāra, añjali) and stuti. In Linga worship, the same inner attitude is expressed through respectful salutations, hymns, and celebratory proclamation of Śiva’s victory (jaya).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice añjali and praṇāma before Śiva (or the Śiva-liṅga), then recite stuti or japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and conclude with a joyful “Jaya Śaṅkara” as an expression of devotional absorption.