Shloka 11

Droṇācārya’s Tapas and the Manifestation of Śiva: The Birth-Grant of Aśvatthāmā (अश्वत्थामा-अवतार-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा द्रोणवचनं शम्भुः प्रोचे तथास्त्विति । अभूदन्तर्हितस्तात कौतुकी सुखकृन्मुने

Transliteration

tacchrutvā droṇavacanaṃ śambhuḥ proce tathāstviti | abhūdantarhitastāta kautukī sukhakṛnmune

Translation

ద్రోణుని మాటలు విని శంభువు—“తథాస్తు” అని పలికెను. ఆపై, ఓ మునీ, ఆనందప్రదుడైన కౌతుకప్రియ ప్రభువు అంతర్హితుడయ్యెను.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'श्रुत्वा' इत्यस्य कर्म

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, gerund/अव्ययभाव), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• द्रोणवचनम्: Droṇa’s words
• द्रोणवचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण-वचन (प्रातिपदिक; द्रोण + वचन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता

• प्रोचे: said, spoke
• प्रोचे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थक (thus/so)

• अस्तु: let it be
• अस्तु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/benedictive sense), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• इति: thus (quoting)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणचिह्न (quotative)

• अभूत्: became, was
• अभूत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अन्तर्हितः: disappeared, hidden
• अन्तर्हितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर्-हित (प्रातिपदिक; धा/हि? 'हित' as kta of धा with prefix)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम् (disappeared/hidden)

• तात: dear one / son
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (vocative), एकवचन; सम्बोधन

• कौतुकī: playful, sportive
• कौतुकī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कौतुकिन्/कौतुकī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम् (playful/curious)

• सुखकृत्: giver of happiness
• सुखकृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख-कृत् (प्रातिपदिक; सुख + कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम् (maker of happiness)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (vocative), एकवचन; सम्बोधन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: tathāstu

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shambhu
• Droṇa

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s sovereign freedom (svātantrya) and compassionate grace: He assents to the devotee’s request and then withdraws from ordinary perception, reminding seekers that the Lord is known through devotion and inner realization, not mere outward sight.

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

Śiva’s vanishing underscores that while Saguna forms appear for the devotee’s uplift, the stable focus for worship is the Linga—an abiding sign of His presence—through which devotees continue bhakti even when dramatic manifestations cease.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate steady remembrance (smaraṇa) and japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—so devotion remains firm whether the Lord is manifest or hidden; this steadiness is a practical takeaway for daily worship and Mahāśivarātri observance.