Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

इत्थं महेश्वरस्तात चक्रे लीलाम्पराम्प्रभुः । अवतीर्य्य क्षितौ द्रौणिरूपेण मुनिसत्तम

Transliteration

itthaṃ maheśvarastāta cakre līlāmparāmprabhuḥ | avatīryya kṣitau drauṇirūpeṇa munisattama

Translation

ดังนี้แล โอ้ผู้เป็นที่รัก พระมหेशวรผู้เป็นจอมเจ้าได้ทรงกระทำลีลาอันยิ่ง และโอ้มหามุนีผู้ประเสริฐ พระองค์เสด็จลงสู่แผ่นดินทรงรับรูปเป็นดราวณี

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (thus/in this manner)

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तात: O dear (one)
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• चक्रे: performed/did
• चक्रे: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• लीलाम्: divine play
• लीलाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पराम्: supreme
• पराम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of लीलाम्

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Appositive subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); apposition to महेश्वरः

• अवतीर्य्य: having descended
• अवतीर्य्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-तॄ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive) ‘having descended’; उपसर्ग: अव-

• क्षितौ: on the earth
• क्षितौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• द्रौणि-रूपेण: in the form of Drauṇi
• द्रौणि-रूपेण: Karana (करण/Means-manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौणि (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (रूप), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/षष्ठी-सम्बन्धार्थ: ‘in the form of Drauṇi’

• मुनिसत्तम: O best of sages
• मुनिसत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘best among sages’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Maheśvara)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that Śiva, though transcendent (para), freely manifests through līlā for the world’s guidance—teaching that the Supreme (Pati) can assume accessible forms so devotees may recognize His governance and grace within history.

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

By stating that Maheśvara “descends” in a specific form, the text affirms Saguna worship: the same formless Supreme is approached through concrete manifestations—like the Liṅga and divine forms—so devotion becomes steady and inward realization matures.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Śiva as both transcendent and present: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while contemplating His līlā as compassionate descent, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of Śiva-tattva.