Shloka 21

व्योमवाणी-श्रवणं, गणानां शरणागमनं, सती-दाह-वृत्तान्तः — Hearing the Heavenly Voice; The Gaṇas Seek Refuge; Account of Satī’s Self-Immolation

Devanagari script

तोदनाच्च द्विधा भूता सा जटा च मुने प्रभोः । संबभूव महारावो महाप्रलयभीषणः

Transliteration

todanācca dvidhā bhūtā sā jaṭā ca mune prabhoḥ | saṃbabhūva mahārāvo mahāpralayabhīṣaṇaḥ

Translation

おお聖仙よ、それが打たれるや、主の結髪（ジャター）は二つに裂け、そして大いなる咆哮が起こった――大劫の滅尽（マハープララヤ）の恐怖にも似て。

Word by Word

• todanāt: from the striking/prodding
• todanāt: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: todana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• dvidhā: into two (parts)
• dvidhā: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dvidhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of manner (प्रकार)

• bhūtā: became
• bhūtā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kridanta, past participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘having become’

• sā: she/that
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• jaṭā: matted lock (of hair)
• jaṭā: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaṭā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; in apposition to sā

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• prabhoḥ: of the Lord
• prabhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• saṃbabhūva: arose, came into being
• saṃbabhūva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + bhū (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्/Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Singular

• mahā-rāvaḥ: a great roar
• mahā-rāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + rāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘great roar’; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• mahā-pralaya-bhīṣaṇaḥ: terrifying like the great dissolution
• mahā-pralaya-bhīṣaṇaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + pralaya (प्रातिपदिक) + bhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘mahāpralayavat bhīṣaṇaḥ’; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying mahā-rāvaḥ

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: mahāpralaya-imagery (pralaya-bhīṣaṇatā as simile)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays Śiva’s supreme lordship: even a single movement affecting His jaṭā manifests a pralayic awe, reminding the devotee that the Pati (Lord) alone governs creation, preservation, and dissolution.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva’s tangible līlā—His form and attributes (like jaṭā) are not mere symbols but compassionate, worship-worthy manifestations through which devotees approach the transcendent Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as Mahākāla beyond mahāpralaya while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); cultivate fearlessness and surrender, offering inner ego into His dissolving roar.