Shloka 12

यक्षेश्वरावतारः (Yakṣeśvara-Avatāra) and the Nīlakaṇṭha Paradigm in the Churning of the Ocean

Devanagari script

जगाम सदनं शंभोः शरणम्भय विह्वलः । सुप्रणम्य च तुष्टाव पाहिपाहीति संवदन्

Transliteration

jagāma sadanaṃ śaṃbhoḥ śaraṇambhaya vihvalaḥ | supraṇamya ca tuṣṭāva pāhipāhīti saṃvadan

Translation

Von Furcht überwältigt ging er zur Wohnstatt Śambhus, um Zuflucht zu suchen. Tief niederfallend pries er Ihn und rief immer wieder: „Beschütze mich, beschütze mich!“

Word by Word

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सदनम्: to the abode/house
• सदनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• शंभोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभोः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• शरणम्: as refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; गत्यर्थक्रियायां द्वितीया (goal)

• भय: from fear / due to fear
• भय: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन (हेतौ/कारणे)

• विह्वलः: agitated, distressed
• विह्वलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गन्ता/राहुः इत्यादेः)

• सुप्रणम्य: having bowed deeply
• सुप्रणम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सु-प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; पूर्वक्रिया (having bowed well)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• तुष्टाव: praised
• तुष्टाव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पाहि: protect!
• पाहि: Sambodhana-prayoga (सम्बोधन/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पाहि: protect!
• पाहि: Sambodhana-prayoga (सम्बोधन/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् (पुनरुक्ति-बलार्थ)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक-अव्यय (quotative)

• संवदन्: speaking, saying
• संवदन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+वद् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; कर्तरि

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) and heartfelt stuti to Śambhu is presented as the direct means to receive abhayadāna (fearlessness) and protection from cosmic afflictions.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: पाहि पाहि

Type: stotra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Graha-bhaya motif (fear of celestial affliction) implied by the narrative context of Moon/Rāhu.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati—taking refuge in Śiva. Fear dissolves when the devotee turns to Pati (the Lord) with humility, acknowledging Him as the ultimate protector and liberator.

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

The verse reflects Saguna-upāsanā: approaching Śambhu as a personal, compassionate Lord who hears the devotee’s cry. Such surrender commonly culminates in Linga-worship as the accessible form of Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prostration (praṇāma) with repeated protective invocation—mentally repeating a prayer like “pāhi pāhi” or the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while cultivating surrender and trust in Śiva’s guardianship.