Shloka 20

Kṛṣṇādi-Śivabhaktoddhāraṇa & Śiva-māhātmya-varṇana

Deliverance of Krishna and other devotees; Description of Shiva’s Greatness

Devanagari script

श्रीमहादेव उवाच । कृष्णं जानामि भक्तं त्वां मयि नित्यं दृढव्रतम् । वृणीष्व त्वं वरान्मत्तः पुण्यांस्त्रैलोक्यदुर्लभान्

Transliteration

śrīmahādeva uvāca | kṛṣṇaṃ jānāmi bhaktaṃ tvāṃ mayi nityaṃ dṛḍhavratam | vṛṇīṣva tvaṃ varānmattaḥ puṇyāṃstrailokyadurlabhān

Translation

ಶ್ರೀಮಹಾದೇವನು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಓ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ನೀನು ನನ್ನ ಭಕ್ತನೆಂದು, ನನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ನಿತ್ಯ ದೃಢವ್ರತನಾಗಿರುವೆನೆಂದು ನಾನು ತಿಳಿದಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ನನ್ನಿಂದ ಪುಣ್ಯವಾದ ವರಗಳನ್ನು ಬೇಡು; ಅವು ತ್ರಿಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ದುರ್ಲಭ.

Word by Word

• श्रीमहादेवः: Śrī Mahādeva
• श्रीमहादेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (श्रीमान् महादेवः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कृष्णम्: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जानामि: I know
• जानामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भक्तम्: devoted
• भक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from भज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (2nd person pronoun)

• मयि: in me/towards me
• मयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (1st person pronoun)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम् (adverbial accusative: 'always')

• दृढव्रतम्: firm in vow
• दृढव्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (दृढं व्रतम्)

• वृणीष्व: choose
• वृणीष्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; रूपम्: वृणीष्व

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (2nd person pronoun)

• वरान्: boons
• वरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मत्तः: from me
• मत्तः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; अस्मद्-शब्दस्य रूपम्

• पुण्यान्: holy/meritorious
• पुण्यान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; वरान् इति विशेषणम्

• त्रैलोक्यदुर्लभान्: rare in the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यदुर्लभान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रैलोक्य-दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (त्रैलोक्ये दुर्लभाः)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Śrī Mahādeva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Krishna

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as Pati (the Lord) who recognizes unwavering bhakti and grants grace (anugraha). Steadfast devotion becomes the qualification for rare, purifying boons that uplift the soul beyond ordinary worldly attainments.

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

Śiva speaks as the accessible Saguna Lord who responds to personal devotion. In Shiva Purana practice, such devotion is commonly expressed through Liṅga-worship—offering, mantra, and reverence—through which the devotee becomes ‘dṛḍhavrata’ (firmly vowed).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to cultivate daily steadfast worship: regular Liṅga-pūjā with focused japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), supported by simple Shaiva disciplines like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to constancy.