Shloka 12

Droṇācārya’s Tapas and the Manifestation of Śiva: The Birth-Grant of Aśvatthāmā (अश्वत्थामा-अवतार-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

द्रोणोऽपगच्छत्स्वन्धाम महाहृष्टो गतभ्रमः । स्वपत्न्यै कथयामास तद्वृतं सकलं मुदा

Transliteration

droṇo'pagacchatsvandhāma mahāhṛṣṭo gatabhramaḥ | svapatnyai kathayāmāsa tadvṛtaṃ sakalaṃ mudā

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ദ്രോണൻ മഹാ സന്തോഷത്തോടെ, ഭ്രമം വിട്ട്, സ്വന്തം ഗൃഹത്തിലേക്ക് മടങ്ങി. സംഭവിച്ച മുഴുവൻ വൃത്താന്തവും ആനന്ദത്തോടെ ഭാര്യയോട് പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• द्रोणः: Droṇa
• द्रोणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता

• अपगच्छत्: went away
• अपगच्छत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'went away'

• स्वम्: his own
• स्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'धाम' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• धाम: abode, home
• धाम: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धामन्/धाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गत्यर्थक क्रियायाः कर्म (destination)

• महाहृष्टः: greatly delighted
• महाहृष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-हृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; महा + हृष्ट)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम्

• गतभ्रमः: free from confusion
• गतभ्रमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत-भ्रम (प्रातिपदिक; गत + भ्रम)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय 'गत'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम् (whose delusion is gone)

• स्वपत्न्यै: to his wife
• स्वपत्न्यै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + पत्नी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• कथयामास: told, narrated
• कथयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु; णिजन्त of कथ्)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Periphrastic perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'वृतम्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वृतम्: event, occurrence
• वृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत (प्रातिपदिक; from वृत्त/वृत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (what was told)

• सकलम्: entire, whole
• सकलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'वृतम्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; manner/instrument

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Droṇa

FAQs

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

It highlights a Shaiva theme: by Shiva’s grace, inner भ्रम (confusion) is dispelled, and the devotee naturally rests in joy and clarity—signs of the mind turning from bondage (pāśa) toward the Lord (Pati).

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

The verse reflects the fruit of Saguna Shiva devotion—tangible transformation in the devotee’s mind and conduct. Returning home “freed from confusion” points to the stabilizing power of Shiva-bhakti that Linga worship commonly cultivates.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Shiva-kathā and smaraṇa: recounting Shiva’s deeds with gladness strengthens devotion. One may pair it with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple home worship (dīpa, bilva, or bhasma/tripuṇḍra where appropriate).