Shloka 4

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

Vasiṣṭha’s Śāpa Narrative

Devanagari script

विहरंस्तत्र स नृपः कमठाह्वं निशाचरम् । निजघान महादुष्टं साधुपीडाकरं खलम्

Transliteration

viharaṃstatra sa nṛpaḥ kamaṭhāhvaṃ niśācaram | nijaghāna mahāduṣṭaṃ sādhupīḍākaraṃ khalam

Translation

While roaming there, that king struck down the night-roaming demon named Kamaṭha—an exceedingly wicked villain who oppressed the sādhus and harassed the righteous.

Word by Word

• विहरन्: sporting, roaming
• विहरन्: कर्ता (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + हृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘नृपः’ इति विशेषण

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: देशाधिकरण (Place adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कमठ-आह्वम्: named ‘Kamaṭha’
• कमठ-आह्वम्: कर्म (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कमठ (प्रातिपदिक) + आह्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कमठ इति आह्वः/नाम यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘निशाचरम्’ इति विशेषण

• निशाचरम्: a night-roamer (demon)
• निशाचरम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक) + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (निशायां चरति); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• निजघान: slew, struck down
• निजघान: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘नि’ उपसर्गयुक्त

• महा-दुष्टम्: very wicked
• महा-दुष्टम्: कर्म (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘खलम्/निशाचरम्’ इति विशेषण

• साधु-पीडा-करम्: causing torment to the good
• साधु-पीडा-करम्: कर्म (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक) + पीडा (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (साधूनां पीडां करोति); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘खलम्’ इति विशेषण

• खलम्: the villain
• खलम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The slaying of a sādhupīḍaka (oppressor of the holy) is a dharma-restoring episode; in Śaiva reading, protection of devotees and restoration of order are expressions of Śiva’s sustaining governance (sthiti) operating through worldly agents.

Significance: Implicit: merit accrues by protecting sādhus; yet the narrative often warns that mere heroism without discernment still leaves one within pāśa (bondage).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse upholds dharma as a Shaiva virtue: protecting sādhus and removing forces that hinder sacred living. In Shaiva Siddhanta, supporting the righteous helps purify karma and aligns society with Shiva’s order (śiva-dharma).

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

Kotirudra Samhita frames many events around sacred places and Shiva’s grace; the defeat of a sādhu-oppressor supports the protection of pilgrimage, worship, and linga-centered devotion. It reflects Saguna Shiva’s compassionate governance through dharmic agents.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to protect and serve sādhus and maintain dharmic conduct; as a Shaiva support-practice, one may recite the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a vow of non-harm and charitable aid to holy persons.