Shloka 16

शिवदूतस्य शङ्खचूडकुलप्रवेशः — The Śiva-Envoy’s Entry into Śaṅkhacūḍa’s City

Devanagari script

अहं स्वस्वामिनं गंतुमिच्छामि त्वरितं हरम् । गत्वा वक्ष्यामि किं शंभोस्तथा त्वं वद मामिह

Transliteration

ahaṃ svasvāminaṃ gaṃtumicchāmi tvaritaṃ haram | gatvā vakṣyāmi kiṃ śaṃbhostathā tvaṃ vada māmiha

Translation

నేను నా స్వామి హరుని వద్దకు త్వరగా వెళ్లదలచుకున్నాను. అక్కడికి వెళ్లి శంభువుకు ఏమి చెప్పాలో, అది నీవు ఇక్కడ నాకు స్పష్టంగా చెప్పు.

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• स्व-स्वामिनम्: my own lord
• स्व-स्वामिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘स्वः स्वामी’ = ‘one’s own lord’

• गन्तुम्: to go
• गन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गन्तुम् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive) ‘to go’

• इच्छामि: I wish
• इच्छामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम

• त्वरितम्: quickly
• त्वरितम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्वरित (प्रातिपदिक; त्वर् धातु से निष्पन्न)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverbial accusative) ‘quickly’

• हरम्: Hara (Śiva)
• हरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘having gone’

• वक्ष्यामि: I will tell
• वक्ष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम

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

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu
• शम्भोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘thus/so’

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• वद: tell
• वद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

Speaker

A messenger/attendant addressing another party in the battle narrative (Yuddhakhaṇḍa context), offering to report to Lord Shiva (Hara/Śambhu).

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati (devotional surrender): the speaker identifies Śiva as the true Lord (svāmin) and seeks to act as an instrument, carrying a truthful message without ego—an attitude aligned with Shaiva Siddhanta devotion to Pati (the Lord).

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

By naming Śiva as Hara/Śambhu, the verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva—approachable, responsive, and engaged in līlā. In Linga-worship, the devotee similarly approaches the manifest Lord with a clear offering and a clear intention, asking what is to be conveyed or offered.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined sevā (service) and truthful speech: before action, clarify the intention and message. Practically, one may do japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and mentally dedicate one’s words and actions to Śiva as the inner Master (svāmin).