Shloka 22

साधुवेषद्विजाह्वयावतारकथनम् | Account of the ‘Sādhu-veṣa’ Brahmin-Named Incarnation

Prelude

Devanagari script

तं च दृष्ट्वा समुत्तस्थौ सगणोऽपि हिमालयः । ननाम दण्डवद्भूमौ साष्टाङ्गं विधिपूर्वकम्

Transliteration

taṃ ca dṛṣṭvā samuttasthau sagaṇo'pi himālayaḥ | nanāma daṇḍavadbhūmau sāṣṭāṅgaṃ vidhipūrvakam

Translation

ครั้นเห็นพระองค์ หิมาลัยพร้อมบริวารก็ลุกขึ้นโดยพลัน แล้วตามพิธีจึงก้มลงแนบพื้นดุจท่อนไม้ ถวายอัษฏางคประณามด้วยอวัยวะแปดประการ

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश्, धा॒तु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having seen)

• samuttasthau: rose up
• samuttasthau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ut-√sthā (स्था, धा॒तु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गौ सम्+उत्

• sa-gaṇaḥ: with his retinue
• sa-gaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सह गणेन = with attendants)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपि (also/even)

• himālayaḥ: Himalaya (the mountain)
• himālayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: himālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• nanāma: bowed
• nanāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (नम्, धा॒तु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• daṇḍavat: prostrate (like a staff)
• daṇḍavat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: daṇḍavat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb: like a staff/prostrate)

• bhūmau: on the ground
• bhūmau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• sa-aṣṭāṅgam: with eight limbs (full prostration)
• sa-aṣṭāṅgam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa + aṣṭāṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग-द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपम्; (सह अष्टाङ्गैः = with eight limbs)

• vidhi-pūrvakam: according to proper procedure
• vidhi-pūrvakam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi + pūrvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग-द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपम्; तत्पुरुषः (विधिना पूर्वकं = according to rule)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Himalaya
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays the ideal Shaiva posture of surrender: even the mighty Himalaya becomes a humble pashu (dependent being) before Pati, Lord Shiva, expressing reverence through disciplined, wholehearted devotion.

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

The verse emphasizes visible, devotional response to Shiva’s presence—standing up in reverence and offering sashtanga pranama—mirroring how devotees approach Saguna Shiva and the Shiva-Linga with outward acts that embody inner bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice vidhipurvaka namaskara: rise with awareness, mentally offer oneself to Shiva, and perform sashtanga pranama; accompany it with silent remembrance of the Panchakshara mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” as an inner act of surrender.