Shloka 18

Droṇācārya’s Tapas and the Manifestation of Śiva: The Birth-Grant of Aśvatthāmā (अश्वत्थामा-अवतार-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

कृष्णोपदेशतश्शम्भोस्तपः कृत्वातिदारुणम् । प्राप्य चास्त्रं शम्भुवराज्जिग्ये तानर्जुनस्ततः

Transliteration

kṛṣṇopadeśataśśambhostapaḥ kṛtvātidāruṇam | prāpya cāstraṃ śambhuvarājjigye tānarjunastataḥ

Translation

クリシュナの教えに従い、アルジュナは主シャンブ（シヴァ）に向けてこの上なく苛烈な苦行を修した。恩寵を授けるシャンブより神なる武器を得て、アルジュナはその後、敵を征服した。

Word by Word

• कृष्णोपदेशतः: from Krishna’s instruction
• कृष्णोपदेशतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण-उपदेश (प्रातिपदिक; कृष्ण + उपदेश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘कृष्णस्य उपदेशः’ (by Krishna’s instruction)

• शम्भोः: of Shambhu (Shiva)
• शम्भोः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• तपः: austerity / penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having done/performed’

• अतिदारुणम्: very severe
• अतिदारुणम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिदारुण (प्रातिपदिक; अति + दारुण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying तपः)

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having obtained’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अस्त्रम्: weapon
• अस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• शम्भुवरात्: from Shiva’s boon
• शम्भुवरात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु-वर (प्रातिपदिक; शम्भु + वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘शम्भोः वरः’ (boon from Shambhu)

• जिग्ये: conquered
• जिग्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘then/thereupon’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: Arjuna’s severe tapas to Śiva recalls the Himalayan tapas-kṣetra ethos; Kedāra is famed as a locus where Śiva is approached through austerity and steadfast devotion, culminating in grace (anugraha).

Significance: Bestowal of Śiva’s grace for overcoming obstacles; purification through tapas and surrender; strengthening of dharma and inner resolve.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Krishna
• Arjuna

FAQs

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

It presents the Shaiva Siddhanta principle that sincere tapas offered to Pati (Śiva) purifies the bound soul (paśu) and brings divine grace; Arjuna’s victory is shown as the fruit of Śiva’s anugraha rather than mere personal power.

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

Śambhu is approached as Saguna Śiva—the compassionate Lord who responds to devotion and austerity with tangible grace (vara and astra). Such narrative supports Linga-worship as a concrete mode of approaching the transcendent Lord through a sacred form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined tapas with Śiva-bhakti—regular japa of Śiva-mantra (especially the Panchakshara, Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with purity, restraint, and focused meditation on Śiva as the giver of grace.