Shloka 28

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

मादृशश्चैत्रवंशेस्मिन्न कोप्यासीन्महीपतिः । किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि कथं राज्यं लभेमहि

Transliteration

mādṛśaścaitravaṃśesminna kopyāsīnmahīpatiḥ | kiṃ karomi kva gacchāmi kathaṃ rājyaṃ labhemahi

Translation

Nesta linhagem dos Caitras, não houve rei como eu. Que devo fazer? Para onde irei? E como poderei recuperar o reino?

Word by Word

• मादृशः: one like me
• मादृशः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; आत्मवाचक (one like me)

• चैत्रवंशे: in the Caitra lineage
• चैत्रवंशे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्र + वंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• कः: who (anyone)
• कः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• अपि: even
• अपि: अव्ययार्थ (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• महीपतिः: king, lord of the earth
• महीपतिः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• किम्: what
• किम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• करोमि: do I do
• करोमि: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• क्व: where
• क्व: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb of place)

• गच्छामि: do I go
• गच्छामि: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb of manner)

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• लभेमहि: may we obtain
• लभेमहि: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive-like usage) आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन; (we) may obtain

Speaker

A dispossessed king of the Caitra lineage (addressing his attendants/counselors in lament)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays the ego’s collapse when worldly support (rājya) is lost, preparing the seeker to turn from mere self-assertion to surrender before Pati (Śiva), the true sovereign who loosens pāśa (bondage) through grace.

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

The king’s helpless questions—“what shall I do, where shall I go?”—mirror the devotee’s turning toward a stable refuge; in the Purāṇic frame, that refuge is Saguna Śiva worshiped as the Liṅga, the accessible form through which divine protection and right order are restored.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a vow of humility, paired with simple Śiva-upacāra (water/leaf offering) to steady the mind and align one’s actions with dharma.