Shloka 6

देवस्तुतिः (Devastuti) — Hymn/Praise of the Devas

Devanagari script

अतस्ते शरणं याता दुःखिता हि विधे वयम् । कुरु त्वं तद्वधोपायं सुखिनस्स्याम तद्यथा

Transliteration

ataste śaraṇaṃ yātā duḥkhitā hi vidhe vayam | kuru tvaṃ tadvadhopāyaṃ sukhinassyāma tadyathā

Translation

Darum, o Vidhi (Brahmā), sind wir, vom Leid bedrückt, zu dir als Zuflucht gekommen. Ersinne das Mittel zu seiner Vernichtung, damit wir wieder glücklich seien wie zuvor.

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Discourse (हेतु/निगमन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/तस्मात्-अर्थ (therefore/from that)

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive), एकवचन; ‘of you/your’

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; with verb ‘याता’ (to take refuge)

• याताः: have gone (taken)
• याताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; agrees with ‘वयम्’ (we)

• दुःखिताः: distressed
• दुःखिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; predicate adjective of ‘वयम्’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed)

• विधे: O Vidhī (Brahmā)
• विधे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; address to Brahmā (Vidhī)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कुरु: do / make
• कुरु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्-वध-उपायम्: means to kill him
• तत्-वध-उपायम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + वध (प्रातिपदिक) + उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य वधस्य उपायः = means of his killing); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुखिनः: happy
• सुखिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; predicate adjective with ‘स्याम’

• स्याम: may we be
• स्याम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (optative), उत्तम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• तत्: so/that
• तत्: Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (correlative ‘so/that’), here part of ‘तद्यथा’ construction

• यथा: as / in such a way that
• यथा: Discourse (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/उपमानार्थक (as/how)

Speaker

The distressed devas (gods) addressing Brahma (Vidhata)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) when beings are overwhelmed by duḥkha; in Shaiva understanding, true protection ultimately rests with the supreme Lord (Pati), while even great deities like Brahmā function as instruments within His cosmic order.

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

Though the verse addresses Brahmā, its narrative logic points to the need for higher divine intervention; in the Shiva Purana, such crises culminate in turning toward Shiva’s saguna grace (often approached through Linga worship) as the stabilizing power behind cosmic restoration.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati supported by japa—especially the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—along with simple Shaiva observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and devotion in times of distress.