Shloka 29

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

अमात्या मंत्रिणश्चैव मामका ये सनातनाः । न जाने कं च नृपतिं समासाद्याधुनासते

Transliteration

amātyā maṃtriṇaścaiva māmakā ye sanātanāḥ | na jāne kaṃ ca nṛpatiṃ samāsādyādhunāsate

Translation

ອຳມາດ ແລະລັດຖະມົນຕີຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ—ຜູ້ທີ່ເຄີຍຢູ່ກັບຂ້າພະເຈົ້າມາແຕ່ເກົ່າ—ບັດນີ້ກັບໄປນັ່ງຮັບໃຊ້ ຫຼັງຈາກເຂົ້າໄປພົບກະສັດຄົນໃດຄົນໜຶ່ງ; ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າກໍບໍ່ຮູ້ດ້ວຍຊ້ຳວ່າເຂົາໄປພຶ່ງພາຜູ້ໃດ.

Word by Word

• अमात्याः: ministers
• अमात्याः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमात्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मन्त्रिणः: counsellors
• मन्त्रिणः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: अव्ययार्थ (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• मामकाः: my own
• मामकाः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मामक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of अमात्याः/मन्त्रिणः)

• ये: who
• ये: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• सनातनाः: ancient, long-standing
• सनातनाः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• जाने: I know
• जाने: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कम्: which (person)
• कम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (here: ‘and/also’)

• नृपतिम्: king
• नृपतिम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• समासाद्य: having approached
• समासाद्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + सद् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त-अव्ययीभावकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); ‘having approached’

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• आसते: they sit / remain
• आसते: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Speaker

A deposed or distressed king (narrative voice within Umāsaṃhitā, recounted by Sūta to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Depicts social bonds (ministers, allegiance) as unstable under māyā; such instability is tirodhāna that reveals the need for the true Lord of beings (Paśupati) as the only unfailing refuge.

FAQs

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

It highlights the instability of worldly bonds—status, allies, and political support—prompting vairāgya (dispassion) and the insight that true refuge is in Pati (Śiva), not in shifting human dependencies.

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

When worldly protectors fail, the devotee is directed toward steadfast shelter in Saguna Śiva—worshipped as the Liṅga—whose grace is not contingent on political fortune and whose presence is the stable support behind all changing relations.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate daily Śiva-śaraṇāgati (taking refuge in Śiva) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” alongside simple Liṅga-pūjā with bhasma/tripuṇḍra and mindful remembrance during adversity.