Shloka 63

रावणस्य तपः-शिवानुग्रहः — Rāvaṇa’s Austerity and Śiva’s Bestowal of Grace

Devanagari script

अयं वै विकृतिं प्राप्तः किं किं नैव ब्रवीति च । सत्यं नैव भवेत्तद्वै कथं ज्ञेयं प्रियोस्ति मे

Transliteration

ayaṃ vai vikṛtiṃ prāptaḥ kiṃ kiṃ naiva bravīti ca | satyaṃ naiva bhavettadvai kathaṃ jñeyaṃ priyosti me

Translation

ఈ మనిషి నిశ్చయంగా వికృతస్థితికి చేరాడు; ఏవేవో మాటలు పలుకుతున్నాడు. అది సత్యం కాదేమో; అయితే అతడు నాకు ప్రియుడా (భక్తుడా) అని నేను ఎలా తెలుసుకొందును?

Word by Word

• ayam: this (person)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Demonstrative pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis/assertion

• vikṛtim: distortion/derangement
• vikṛtim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• prāptaḥ: having attained
• prāptaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु) + pra + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; sense: 'having attained/reached'

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun, Neuter, Accusative, Singular; used adverbially

• kim: what (all)
• kim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun, Neuter, Accusative, Singular; repetition = 'what all/such and such'

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• eva: indeed/at all
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• bravīti: speaks/says
• bravīti: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• satyam: truth
• satyam: Pradhāna (प्रधान/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; used as predicate noun 'truth'

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• eva: at all/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• bhavet: would be/becomes
• bhavet: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (लिङ्/Optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Demonstrative pronoun, Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• katham: how
• katham: Prakāra (प्रकार/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्न-क्रियाविशेषण)

• jñeyam: to be known
• jñeyam: Vidhi (विधि/Obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु) + ya (य)
• Form: Gerundive (यत्/य-प्रत्यय), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; 'to be known/ascertained'

• priyaḥ: dear (one)
• priyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• asti: is
• asti: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• me: my/to me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; enclitic form

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a dialogue within the Kotirudra Samhita; the immediate speaker is inferred as a concerned character assessing another's disturbed speech)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Illustrates the psychological turbulence (vikṛti) that can accompany pride, suspicion, and misreading of devotion; pilgrimage merit is impeded when the mind remains bound by pāśa (āṇava/kārma/māyīya).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights a Shaiva concern: disturbed speech and mental agitation can cloud discernment, so truth (satya) and steadiness are needed to recognize genuine devotion and right understanding.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes inner purity and steadiness; this verse underscores that erratic claims are not proof of closeness to Shiva—true bhakti is known through clarity, humility, and alignment with dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to stabilize the mind through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined worship (e.g., Tripundra/bhasma and Rudraksha with sincerity), so discernment is not lost to agitation.