Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

अथ द्रौणिः प्रसन्नात्मा पाण्डवान्कृष्णमेव च । नानावरान्ददौ प्रीत्या सोऽश्वत्थामानुगृह्य च

Transliteration

atha drauṇiḥ prasannātmā pāṇḍavānkṛṣṇameva ca | nānāvarāndadau prītyā so'śvatthāmānugṛhya ca

Translation

于是德劳尼（阿湿婆陀摩）心境澄明安泰，怀着欢喜之爱，赐予般度五子以及黑天（克里希那）诸多恩赐；他以阿湿婆陀摩之身，显现了垂怜与加被。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• द्रौणिः: Drauṇi (Aśvatthāmā)
• द्रौणिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रसन्नात्मा: with a pleased/serene mind
• प्रसन्नात्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: ‘प्रसन्नः आत्मा यस्य’/‘serene-souled’

• पाण्डवान्: the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कृष्णम्: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• नाना-वरान्: various boons
• नाना-वरान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय: ‘नानाविधाः वराः’ (various boons)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Hetu (हेतु/Cause-manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अश्वत्थामा: Aśvatthāmā
• अश्वत्थामा: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वत्थामन्/अश्वत्थामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अनुगृह्य: having favoured
• अनुगृह्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive), उपसर्ग: अनु-; ‘having favoured/blessed’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Ashvatthama
• Pandavas
• Krishna

FAQs

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

It highlights how inner calm (prasannatā) becomes the ground for auspicious action—boons and reconciliation—reflecting the Shaiva view that grace flows when the mind is pacified and aligned with dharma.

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

Though the Linga is not named here, the motif of bestowing boons mirrors Saguna Shiva’s role as the compassionate Lord who grants blessings when devotion and right disposition arise, a central theme in Shiva Purana narratives.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate prasannatā through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha, emphasizing forgiveness and restraint before seeking blessings.