Shloka 20

मित्रसह-राज्ञो रक्षत्व-शापकथा — The Curse that Turns King Mitrasaha into a Rakshasa

Vasiṣṭha’s Śāpa Narrative

Devanagari script

कुक्षौ गृहीतं भर्तारं दृष्ट्वा भीता च तत्प्रिया । सा चक्रे प्रार्थनं तस्मै वदंती करुणं वचः

Transliteration

kukṣau gṛhītaṃ bhartāraṃ dṛṣṭvā bhītā ca tatpriyā | sā cakre prārthanaṃ tasmai vadaṃtī karuṇaṃ vacaḥ

Translation

Seeing her husband seized and held fast within (his) belly, his beloved became afraid; and, speaking words filled with compassion, she made a heartfelt supplication to him.

Word by Word

• kukṣau: in the belly/womb
• kukṣau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kukṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• gṛhītam: seized/held
• gṛhītam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कर्मणि-भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘भर्तारम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• bhartāram: husband
• bhartāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: अव्यय-भावे कृदन्त (Gerund/क्त्वान्त), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• bhītā: frightened
• bhītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhī (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सा’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• tat-priyā: his beloved (wife)
• tat-priyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: ‘तस्य प्रियाः’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• cakre: did/made
• cakre: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद-रूप (irregular perfect of √kṛ)

• prārthanam: a supplication/prayer
• prārthanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prārthanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• vadantī: speaking
• vadantī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सा’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• karuṇam: pitiful/compassionate
• karuṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘vacaḥ’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• vacaḥ: words/speech
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vac (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) through compassionate prayer when one faces fear and helplessness—an attitude central to Shaiva bhakti, where the devotee turns to Pati (Lord Shiva) as the ultimate protector and liberator.

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

In Kotirudrasaṃhitā’s Jyotirlinga-centered narrative, such supplication reflects approaching Saguna Shiva—Shiva who responds to devotees’ cries—often worshiped as the Jyotirlinga, the accessible form through which grace (anugraha) is received.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is prayerful remembrance of Shiva in distress—mentally repeating the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with humility and compassion, seeking anugraha rather than reacting with despair.