Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

कौरवाणां स आचर्य्यं आसीत्स्वबलतो द्विज । महारथिषु विख्यातः षट्सु कौरवमध्यतः

Transliteration

kauravāṇāṃ sa ācaryyaṃ āsītsvabalato dvija | mahārathiṣu vikhyātaḥ ṣaṭsu kauravamadhyataḥ

Translation

婆罗门啊，凭借自身的英勇之力，他成为俱卢族（Kaurava）的导师。他在诸大车战士中声名显赫，位居六位杰出俱卢勇士之首。

Word by Word

• कौरवाणाम्: of the Kauravas
• कौरवाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

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

• आचर्यम्: teacher; preceptor
• आचर्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आसीत्’ इत्यस्य विधेय-नाम (predicate noun)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्वबलतः: by his own strength
• स्वबलतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्व-बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; ‘बलतः’ (ablative-in-sense: by force/through strength) with ‘स्व’ (own) as upapada; अर्थे: कारण/उपाय

• द्विज: O twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• महारथिषु: among the great chariot-warriors
• महारथिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-रथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः: महान्तः रथिनः

• विख्यातः: renowned
• विख्यातः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विख्यात (प्रातिपदिक; √ख्या धातु-जन्य, भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• षट्सु: among the six
• षट्सु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (त्रिलिङ्ग), सप्तमी, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• कौरवमध्यतः: from/within the midst of the Kauravas
• कौरवमध्यतः: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण/Locative of place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कौरव-मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; ‘मध्यतः’ (ablative/locative-in-sense adverb: from/in the midst)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Kauravas

FAQs

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

It highlights worldly greatness—fame, strength, and martial rank—as powerful yet ultimately limited; Shaiva Siddhanta frames such achievements as transient compared to devotion to Pati (Shiva), the true giver of liberation.

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

By contrasting human renown with higher refuge, the narrative implicitly directs the listener from dependence on worldly leaders to Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-seva), where grace—not mere prowess—becomes the decisive power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate humility and steadiness through daily Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and simple Linga worship; offer water and bilva leaves while remembering that true strength is Shiva’s anugraha (grace).