Shloka 52

Bhaimaśaṅkara-māhātmya: Śiva’s Descent in Kāmarūpa and the Rise of Bhīma

Devanagari script

ते ततो विकलास्सर्वे सवासवसुरर्षयः । ब्रह्मविष्णू पुरोधाय शंकरं शरणं ययुः

Transliteration

te tato vikalāssarve savāsavasurarṣayaḥ | brahmaviṣṇū purodhāya śaṃkaraṃ śaraṇaṃ yayuḥ

Translation

Then all of them—distressed and shaken, along with Indra, the Devas, and the sages—placing Brahmā and Viṣṇu at their forefront, went to Śaṅkara seeking refuge.

Word by Word

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (ततः = then/from there)

• vikalāḥ: distressed/disabled
• vikalāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sa-vāsava-sura-ṛṣayaḥ: including Indra, the gods, and the sages
• sa-vāsava-sura-ṛṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (अव्यय) + vāsava (प्रातिपदिक) + sura (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व) with sahārtha ‘including’, Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• brahma-viṣṇū: Brahmā and Viṣṇu
• brahma-viṣṇū: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• purodhāya: having placed (them) in front / leading with
• purodhāya: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: puras (प्रातिपदिक) + √dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: Gerund/absolutive (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; ल्यप्), ‘having placed in front’

• śaṃkaram: Śaṅkara
• śaṃkaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaraṇam: refuge
• śaraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• yayuḥ: went
• yayuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (या धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General Purāṇic pattern: when dharma is eclipsed and devas are oppressed, they approach Śaṅkara for śaraṇāgati; Śiva’s response restores cosmic order through grace and corrective dissolution of adharma.

Significance: Models śaraṇāgati to Śiva as the direct means to receive anugraha when all other supports fail.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Indra
• Devas
• Sages

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati—taking refuge in Śiva as the supreme Pati—when even gods and sages become afflicted; liberation and protection are affirmed as arising from surrender to Śaṅkara.

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

Approaching Śaṅkara for refuge reflects Saguna-upāsanā: devotees turn to the compassionate, accessible form of Śiva (often worshipped as the Liṅga) as the immediate sanctuary in times of fear and disorder.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is refuge through devotion: repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and, where traditional, wear Rudrākṣa and apply Tripuṇḍra-bhasma as outward supports for inner surrender.