Shloka 40

Gṛhapati’s Vow: Turning Grief into Mṛtyuñjaya–Mahākāla Sādhana (गृहपतेः प्रतिज्ञा—मृत्युंजय-महाकालजपः)

Devanagari script

गृहपतिरुवाच । गच्छाहल्यापतेऽसाधो गोत्रारे पाकशासन । न प्रार्थये पशुपतेरन्यं देवान्तरं स्फुटम्

Transliteration

gṛhapatiruvāca | gacchāhalyāpate'sādho gotrāre pākaśāsana | na prārthaye paśupateranyaṃ devāntaraṃ sphuṭam

Translation

ഗൃഹപതി പറഞ്ഞു—പോകുക, അഹല്യാപതേ ദുഷ്ടാ! ഗോത്രശത്രുവേ, പാകശാസനാ! പശുപതിയെ ഒഴികെ മറ്റൊരു ദേവനെയും ഞാൻ വ്യക്തമായി പ്രാർത്ഥിക്കുന്നില്ല।

Word by Word

• गृहपतिः: the householder / lord of the house
• गृहपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गृहस्य पतिः)

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

• गच्छ: go
• गच्छ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहल्यापते: O husband of Ahalyā
• अहल्यापते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहल्या + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अहल्यायाः पतिः)

• असाधो: O wicked one
• असाधो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असाधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गोत्रारे: O enemy of the lineage
• गोत्रारे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोत्रारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद (गोत्रस्य अरिः = enemy of the clan)

• पाकशासन: O punisher of Pāka (Indra)
• पाकशासन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाक + शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पाकस्य शासनः = punisher of Pāka)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• प्रार्थये: I request / I seek
• प्रार्थये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पशुपतेः: of Paśupati (Śiva)
• पशुपतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशुपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पशूनां पतिः)

• अन्यम्: another
• अन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying देवान्तरम्)

• देवान्तरम्: another god
• देवान्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानाम् अन्तरम् = another deity)

• स्फुटम्: clearly
• स्फुटम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्फुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: clearly/explicitly)

Speaker

Gṛhapati

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The devotee explicitly names Paśupati as the only sought deity, rejecting Indra with sharp epithets. The polemic underscores Śiva’s unique status as Pati (Lord) over all paśus, including devas, and anticipates Śiva’s protective grace for the steadfast devotee.

Significance: Affirms ekānta-śaraṇāgati to Paśupati; encourages devotees to prioritize mokṣa-oriented devotion over celestial rewards.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: paśupateḥ… na prārthaye…

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra

FAQs

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

The verse highlights niṣṭhā-bhakti—single-pointed commitment to Paśupati (Śiva) as the supreme Pati. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, liberation is secured by taking refuge in the Lord of all beings rather than chasing limited, worldly boons from other deities.

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

By declaring exclusive reliance on Paśupati, the devotee affirms Saguna-upāsanā (devotional worship of Śiva with attributes), commonly centered on the Śiva-liṅga as the accessible form of the transcendent Lord who grants grace (anugraha).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is ekāgratā in Śiva-bhakti: daily Śiva-liṅga pūjā with the Panchākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), optionally supported by bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as Shaiva observances.