Shloka 34
Adhyāya 6: Śibira-dvāra-sthita Bhūta-varṇana and Aśvatthāmā’s Śaraṇāgati to Mahādeva
कपालमालिन रुद्रं भगनेत्रहरं हरम् । स हि देवो>त्यगाद् देवांस्तपसा विक्रमेण च । तस्माच्छरणमभ्येमि गिरिशं शूलपघाणिनम्
kapālamālinam rudraṁ bhaganetra-haraṁ haram | sa hi devo 'tyagād devāṁs tapasā vikrameṇa ca | tasmāc charaṇam abhyemi giriśaṁ śūla-pāṇinam ||
কপালমালাধারী, ভগের চক্ষু হরণকারী হর-রুদ্রের আমি শরণ গ্রহণ করি। তপস্যা ও পরাক্রমে সেই দেব অন্য দেবতাদের অতিক্রম করেছেন; অতএব আমি ত্রিশূলধারী গিরীশের আশ্রয়ে যাই।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) in Śiva as the highest protector, grounding his supremacy in two ideals: tapas (disciplined austerity) and vikrama (courageous power). Ethically, it implies that true authority is not mere status among gods but earned through self-mastery and righteous strength.
In the tense aftermath of the war (Sauptika Parva), Sañjaya utters an invocation to Śiva, naming him through powerful epithets (skull-garlanded, destroyer of Bhaga’s eye, trident-bearer) and explicitly declaring his refuge in him, framing the coming events under Śiva’s overwhelming ascetic and martial potency.