Shloka 13

Śiva-nāma-smaraṇa and Śambhu’s Protective Manifestation

Dāruka Episode

Devanagari script

जघान सोपकरणांस्तान्सर्वान्सगणान्द्रुतम् । अरक्षच्च स्वभक्तं वै दुष्टहा स हि शंकरः

Transliteration

jaghāna sopakaraṇāṃstānsarvānsagaṇāndrutam | arakṣacca svabhaktaṃ vai duṣṭahā sa hi śaṃkaraḥ

Translation

Śaṅkara, der Vernichter der Bösen, erschlug eilends all jene Gefolgsleute samt ihren Waffen; und wahrlich, Er beschützte Seinen eigenen Verehrer.

Word by Word

• jaghāna: slew
• jaghāna: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (हन् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect/लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• sa-upakaraṇān: along with (their) equipment
• sa-upakaraṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह-भाव) + upakaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; bahuvrīhi: 'upakaraṇaiḥ saha vartamānān' = 'with their equipment' (qualifying tān)

• tān: those (them)
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; pronoun

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; adjective qualifying tān

• sa-gaṇān: together with (their) troops
• sa-gaṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; bahuvrīhi: 'gaṇaiḥ saha' = 'together with their troops/attendants' (qualifying tān)

• drutam: quickly
• drutam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: druta (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण; accusative used adverbially)

• arakṣat: protected
• arakṣat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rakṣ (रक्ष् धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• sva-bhaktam: his devotee
• sva-bhaktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (ṣaṣṭhī): 'sya bhaktaḥ' = 'his devotee'

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• duṣṭa-hā: slayer of the wicked
• duṣṭa-hā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + √han (हन् धातु) → hā (कृदन्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; upapada-tatpuruṣa with agent-noun (हन् → -हन्/-हा): 'duṣṭān hanti' = 'slayer of the wicked'

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; pronoun

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• śaṃkaraḥ: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• śaṃkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General doctrine: Śiva as duṣṭa-hā protects the bhakta; remembrance of Śaṅkara is rakṣā (protective) in crisis.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Shankara)

FAQs

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

The verse presents Shiva as both duṣṭahā (destroyer of adharma) and bhakta-rakṣaka (protector of devotees), teaching that divine grace actively removes obstructive forces while preserving sincere devotion on the path toward liberation.

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

It highlights Saguna Shiva’s personal, accessible aspect—Shankara intervenes in the world to uphold dharma and protect devotees, which is the devotional basis for Linga worship as a living presence of Shiva’s grace and authority.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is bhakti grounded in protection-seeking remembrance: regular japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” coupled with simple Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as signs of refuge in Shiva.