Shloka 21

Devanagari script

बलेः पुत्रशतं त्वासीदशनायां मुनीश्वर । बलिरासीन्महाशैवः शिवभक्तिपरायणः

Transliteration

baleḥ putraśataṃ tvāsīdaśanāyāṃ munīśvara | balirāsīnmahāśaivaḥ śivabhaktiparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

おお尊き牟尼よ。バリにはアシャナーより百人の पुत्र（息子）があった。バリ自身は大いなるシャイヴァであり、シヴァへのバクティに専心し、主への礼拝と愛に堅く住していた。

Word by Word

• baleḥ: of Bali
• baleḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• putra-śatam: a hundred sons
• putra-śatam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (putrāṇāṃ śatam = a hundred of sons)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधानार्थक निपात (indeed)

• āsīt: was/existed
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• aśanāyām: in (his) wife Aśanāyā
• aśanāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśanāyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• munīśvara: O lord of sages
• munīśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: munīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• baliḥ: Bali
• baliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• āsīt: was
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• mahā-śaivaḥ: a great devotee of Śiva (Śaiva)
• mahā-śaivaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + śaiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (mahān śaivaḥ = a great Śaiva)

• śiva-bhakti-parāyaṇaḥ: wholly devoted to Śiva-bhakti
• śiva-bhakti-parāyaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (śive bhaktau parāyaṇaḥ = devoted to devotion to Śiva)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bali
• Aśanā

FAQs

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

It highlights that lineage and worldly power are secondary; the highest identity praised is being “mahāśaivaḥ”—one whose life is anchored in Śiva-bhakti, pointing to liberation through devotion to Pati (Lord Śiva).

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

By calling Bali a “mahāśaiva” devoted to Śiva, the verse implies committed Saguna worship—devotion expressed through reverence, service, and traditional forms such as Liṅga-upāsanā, which the Purāṇa repeatedly presents as a direct means to Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steadfast daily Śiva-bhakti—regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and faithful pūjā (often centered on the Liṅga), performed with constancy rather than mere occasional observance.