Shloka 26

ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः

Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins

Devanagari script

बृहस्पतेर्गृहं गत्वा तारा दुष्टेन वै हृता । तस्य भार्या पुनश्चैव स दैत्यान्समुपस्थितः

Transliteration

bṛhaspatergṛhaṃ gatvā tārā duṣṭena vai hṛtā | tasya bhāryā punaścaiva sa daityānsamupasthitaḥ

Translation

The wicked Candra went to Bṛhaspati’s house and indeed carried off Tārā, Bṛhaspati’s wife. Thereafter he approached the Daityas, seeking their support.

Word by Word

• बृहस्पतेः: of Bṛhaspati
• बृहस्पतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• गृहम्: house
• गृहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकाल (having gone)

• तारा: Tārā
• तारा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दुष्टेन: by a wicked (one)
• दुष्टेन: Kartr-karana (कर्तृकरण/agent-instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (केन? implied agent)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: indeed)

• हृता: was abducted/taken away
• हृता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• तस्य: of him/of that (person)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भार्या: wife
• भार्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle: only/indeed)

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

• दैत्यान्: the Daityas (demons)
• दैत्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• समुपस्थितः: approached, came near
• समुपस्थितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उप-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Active Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (he) having approached/arrived

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Brihaspati
• Tara
• Daityas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how desire and unrighteous action (adharma)—symbolized by abducting another’s wife—pull the mind into conflict and bondage, the opposite of the Shaiva aim of purification and liberation under Pati (Shiva).

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

By contrast: Linga-worship and devotion to Saguna Shiva cultivate self-restraint, truth, and dharma, whereas this verse depicts the destabilizing results of passion and ego that devotional discipline is meant to overcome.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to stabilize the mind with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and maintain purity of conduct; this supports inner control (śama) and prevents desire from becoming a binding pasha.