Shloka 55

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

तौ दृष्ट्वा भगवन्नाभिपङ्कजे कमलासनम् । हननायोद्यतावास्तां कस्त्वं भोरिति वादिनौ

Transliteration

tau dṛṣṭvā bhagavannābhipaṅkaje kamalāsanam | hananāyodyatāvāstāṃ kastvaṃ bhoriti vādinau

Translation

ਭਗਵਾਨ ਦੀ ਨਾਭੀ-ਕਮਲ ਉੱਤੇ ਬਿਰਾਜਮਾਨ ਕਮਲਾਸਨ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਨੂੰ ਵੇਖ ਕੇ ਉਹ ਦੋਵੇਂ ਮਾਰਨ ਲਈ ਤਿਆਰ ਹੋ ਗਏ ਅਤੇ ਬੋਲੇ—“ਓ ਮਹੋਦਯ, ਤੂੰ ਕੌਣ ਹੈਂ?”

Word by Word

• तौ: those two (them)
• तौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (pronoun, masc. acc. dual)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव (gerund/absolutive: having seen)

• भगवत्-नाभि-पङ्कजे: in the lotus (arising) from the Lord’s navel
• भगवत्-नाभि-पङ्कजे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + नाभि (प्रातिपदिक) + पङ्कज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neut. loc. sg.); अधिकरण (locus)

• कमल-आसनम्: the lotus-seated one (Brahmā)
• कमल-आसनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masc. acc. sg.)

• हननाय: for killing
• हननाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (dat. sg.); प्रयोजन (purpose)

• उद्यतौ: ready / raised (to act)
• उद्यतौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्यत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (masc. nom. dual)

• आस्ताम्: let them be / they stood
• आस्ताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, द्विवचन (imperative, 3rd person dual); परस्मैपदम्

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (interrogative pronoun, masc. nom. sg.)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (2nd person pronoun, nom. sg.)

• भोः: O! / hey!
• भोः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भोः (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle/interjection)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्य-समाप्ति-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• वादिनौ: the two who spoke
• वादिनौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वद् (धातु) → वादिन् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम (agent noun, masc. nom. dual)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights how ego and rivalry can arise even among exalted beings; Shaiva teaching points beyond such conflict to the recognition of the Supreme Pati (Shiva) as the ultimate reality who dissolves ignorance.

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

The narrative sets the stage for realizing a higher principle beyond mere power-struggle—typically resolved in Shaiva Purana through Shiva’s revelation (often as the Linga/Jyoti) as the supreme, worthy of Saguna worship that leads the mind to Nirguna truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is cultivating humility and steadiness through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative restraint, transforming aggression into devotion and discernment.