Shloka 74

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

ऋथिरुवाच । एकार्णवां महीं दृष्ट्वा प्रोचतुः केशवं वचः । आवां जहि न यत्रासौ धरणी पयसाऽ ऽप्लुता

Transliteration

ṛthiruvāca | ekārṇavāṃ mahīṃ dṛṣṭvā procatuḥ keśavaṃ vacaḥ | āvāṃ jahi na yatrāsau dharaṇī payasā' 'plutā

Translation

ຣຶຖິ ກ່າວວ່າ: «ເມື່ອເຫັນແຜ່ນດິນກາຍເປັນມະຫາສະໝຸດດຽວ ພວກເຂົາໄດ້ກ່າວຕໍ່ເກສະວະ (ພຣະວິດສະນຸ) ວ່າ: ‘ຂໍພາພວກເຮົາໄປບ່ອນທີ່ແຜ່ນດິນນີ້ບໍ່ຖືກນ້ຳຖ້ວມກົດຄຸມ’»។

Word by Word

• ऋथिः: Ṛthi (a sage)
• ऋथिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• एकार्णवाम्: (as) one ocean
• एकार्णवाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—एकः अर्णवः इव (one ocean-like / a single ocean)

• महीम्: the earth
• महीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘having seen’

• प्रोचतुः: the two said
• प्रोचतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-उच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन

• केशवम्: Keśava (Viṣṇu)
• केशवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वचः: words/speech
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आवाम्: we two
• आवाम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• जहि: kill/destroy
• जहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• असौ: that (earth)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संकेतार्थक सर्वनाम ‘that (she)’

• धरणी: the earth
• धरणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पयसाऽ: with water
• पयसाऽ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विसर्ग-लोपः पदान्ते (पयसाः→पयसा)

• आप्लुता: flooded/submerged
• आप्लुता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-प्लु (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘flooded/submerged’

Speaker

Ṛthi

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A pralaya-like inundation (ekārṇava) prompts beings to seek refuge; the verse functions as a narrative prelude rather than a specific Jyotirliṅga māhātmya.

Significance: Evokes śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) amid cosmic dissolution; inspires reliance on divine guidance when the world-support (dharaṇī) is overwhelmed.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Pralaya-like ekārṇava (cosmic inundation) imagery

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse depicts the helplessness of beings during cosmic inundation and their instinct to seek divine refuge; in Shaiva Siddhanta, it points to the soul’s dependence and the need for grace beyond changing states of the world.

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

Though Viṣṇu is addressed in the narrative, the Uma Saṃhitā’s broader teaching emphasizes taking refuge in the manifest Lord (Saguna)—often symbolized by the Śiva-liṅga—as the stable support when the world’s forms dissolve.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge): steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and contemplation of Śiva as the inner support during fear and uncertainty.