Shloka 9

Devanagari script

महीध्रविवरेभ्यश्च निर्घाता भयसूचकाः । रथनिर्ह्रादतुल्याश्च जज्ञिरेऽवसरे ततः

Transliteration

mahīdhravivarebhyaśca nirghātā bhayasūcakāḥ | rathanirhrādatulyāśca jajñire'vasare tataḥ

Translation

Da, in eben jenem Augenblick, erhoben sich aus den Felsspalten der Berge furchterregende Donnerschläge—Vorzeichen des Schreckens—, dröhnend wie das Rollen von Kriegswagen.

Word by Word

• महीध्र-विवरेभ्यः: from the mountain clefts
• महीध्र-विवरेभ्यः: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीध्र + विवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), बहुवचन; समास: महीध्रस्य विवरम् (caves/clefts of mountains)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• निर्घाताः: thunderclaps; crashes
• निर्घाताः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्घात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• भय-सूचकाः: portending fear
• भय-सूचकाः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Karta-adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय + सूचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण of निर्घाताः; ‘भयस्य सूचकाः’ (indicating fear)

• रथ-निर्ह्राद-तुल्याः: like the roar of chariots
• रथ-निर्ह्राद-तुल्याः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Karta-adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथ + निर्ह्राद + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण of निर्घाताः; ‘like the rumbling of chariots’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• जज्ञिरे: arose
• जज्ञिरे: क्रिया (Action/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘they arose/were produced’

• अवसरे: at the occasion/time
• अवसरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; काल/अधिकरण (time-location)

• ततः: then
• ततः: काल/क्रम (Temporal sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — ‘then/from there’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

FAQs

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

The verse frames cosmic disturbances as omens that precede divine events, reminding devotees that fear arises in the realm of māyā, while refuge in Pati (Shiva) grants inner steadiness and fearlessness.

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

Such portents emphasize the devotee’s need to anchor the mind in Saguna Shiva—often approached through Linga worship—so outer turbulence does not shake inner devotion and remembrance of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the breath and repeat the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") when fear arises, reinforcing śaraṇāgati (surrender) and Shiva-centered awareness.