Shloka 14

Śiva–Arjuna Yuddha and the Subjugation of Pride (Śiva-parīkṣā)

Devanagari script

दातुं स्वदासतां तस्मै भक्तवश्यतया मुने । शिवेनैव कृतं ह्येतच्चरितन्नान्यथा भवेत्

Transliteration

dātuṃ svadāsatāṃ tasmai bhaktavaśyatayā mune | śivenaiva kṛtaṃ hyetaccaritannānyathā bhavet

Translation

Wahai muni, kerana ditundukkan oleh bhakti, Śiva sendiri melakukan perbuatan ini untuk menganugerahkan kepada bhakta itu keadaan sebagai hamba-Nya; tidak mungkin terjadi selain demikian.

Word by Word

• दातुम्: to give
• दातुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), ‘to give’

• स्व-दासताम्: his own servitude
• स्व-दासताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दासता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: ‘one’s own servitude’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of दातुम्

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; dative ‘to him’

• भक्तवश्यतया: by being controlled by devotion/devotees
• भक्तवश्यतया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वश्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (भक्तेषु वश्यता: ‘submissiveness to devotees’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; instrumental ‘by/through’

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• शिवेन: by Śiva
• शिवेन: कर्ता (Karta/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental ‘by Śiva’

• एव: indeed / only
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphatic/only)

• कृतम्: done
• कृतम्: क्रिया (Passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate ‘done’

• हि: indeed / for
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक (particle: for/indeed)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies चरितम्

• चरितम्: deed / conduct
• चरितम्: कर्म/भाव (Event/Act)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; subject/predicate-noun ‘deed/act’

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: otherwise)

• भवेत्: would be
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; parasmaipada

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, inferred from Purana dialogue convention in this Samhita)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva, the supreme Pati, freely grants His grace when devotion becomes mature—so powerful that the Lord is said to be “conquered” by bhakti—bestowing intimate nearness expressed as servitude to Him.

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

In Saguna worship (such as Linga-pūjā), devotion is offered through love, surrender, and service; this verse affirms that such heartfelt bhakti draws Śiva’s direct response and blessing, making the relationship personal and experiential.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate bhakti through daily Śiva-pūjā and japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with the attitude of dāsa-bhāva (humble service), seeking Śiva’s grace rather than merely worldly results.