Shloka 32

Muñjavān on Himavat: Maheśvara’s abode, Śiva-stuti, and sacrificial gold

Chapter 8

Devanagari script

प्रणम्य शिरसा देवमनड्राड्रहरं हरम्‌ । शरण्यं शरणं याहि महादेवं चतुर्मुखम्‌

Transliteration

praṇamya śirasā devam aṇḍa-dhāra-haraṃ haram | śaraṇyaṃ śaraṇaṃ yāhi mahādevaṃ caturmukham ||

Translation

Tundukkan kepala dan bersujud hormat kepada Dewa Hara, yang memikul lalu menyingkirkan beban jagat raya; pergilah berlindung kepada Mahādeva, Sang Pemberi Suaka, Tuhan yang berwajah empat (dalam perwujudan-Nya).

Word by Word

• प्रणम्य: having bowed / after bowing
• प्रणम्य: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे अव्ययभावः), कर्तरि, पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (absolutive)

• शिरसा: with (one's) head
• शिरसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अण्ड-अद्रि-हरम्: the remover/destroyer of the cosmic mountain (epithet of Śiva)
• अण्ड-अद्रि-हरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अण्डाद्रिहर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• हरम्: Hara (Śiva)
• हरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शरण्यम्: worthy of refuge / protector
• शरण्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• याहि: go / take (as refuge)
• याहि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), Second, Singular, परस्मैपद

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva (the great god, Śiva)
• महादेवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• चतुर्मुखम्: the four-faced one
• चतुर्मुखम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्मुख
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संवर्त उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Saṃvarta
• Hara (Śiva)
• Mahādeva
• Caturmukha (four-faced form/epithet of Śiva)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches śaraṇāgati—seeking refuge in the divine through humility. By bowing (praṇāma) and turning to Śiva as śaraṇya (the refuge-worthy protector), one aligns with dharma in moments of danger, confusion, or moral strain.

What is happening in the narrative?

Saṃvarta instructs the listener to bow to Hara (Śiva) and to approach Mahādeva as the ultimate shelter. The surrounding prose in the Gītā Press passage expands this into a litany of Śiva’s epithets, emphasizing his cosmic sovereignty and his readiness to protect those who surrender.