Shloka 47

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

ऋषि उवाच । महामाया जगद्धात्री शक्तिरूपा सनातनी । सा मोहयति सर्वेषां समाकृष्य मनांसि वै

Transliteration

ṛṣi uvāca | mahāmāyā jagaddhātrī śaktirūpā sanātanī | sā mohayati sarveṣāṃ samākṛṣya manāṃsi vai

Translation

仙圣说道：“大幻力（Mahāmāyā）——以圣力（Śakti）之形而常住、为世界之持养者——确能迷惑一切众生，摄引其心归向于她。”

Word by Word

• ऋषिः: the sage
• ऋषिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महामाया: Great Māyā
• महामाया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—महती माया (कर्मधारयः)

• जगद्धात्री: supporter/sustainer of the world
• जगद्धात्री: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + धात्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—जगतः धात्री (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• शक्तिरूपा: having the form of power
• शक्तिरूपा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्ति + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—शक्तेः रूपम् यस्याः/या (शक्ति-रूपा)

• सनातनी: eternal
• सनातनी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मोहयति: deludes
• मोहयति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुह् (धातु; णिच्)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative (णिच्)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all (beings)
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• समाकृष्य: having attracted
• समाकृष्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + कृष् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable); पूर्वक्रिया (having drawn/attracted)

• मनांसि: minds
• मनांसि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

A sage (Ṛṣi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It identifies Mahāmāyā (Śakti) as the cosmic power that captivates the mind and produces delusion; in Shaiva Siddhanta this is a form of bondage (pāśa) that must be transcended for union with Pati (Lord Shiva).

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

Since Māyā pulls the mind outward, worship of the Śiva-liṅga as Saguna Shiva trains attention toward the divine center; steady devotion and mantra-japa purify the mind so it can recognize Shiva beyond delusion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and/or rudrākṣa, combined with focused meditation to withdraw the mind from Māyā’s attractions.