Shloka 23

Kāmarūpeśvara’s Trial and Śiva’s Hidden Protection (कামरूपेश्वर-रक्षा-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कामरूपेश्वरो नृपः । दृढं शंकरविश्वासो द्रुतं वाक्यमुवाच तम्

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | iti tadvacanaṃ śrutvā kāmarūpeśvaro nṛpaḥ | dṛḍhaṃ śaṃkaraviśvāso drutaṃ vākyamuvāca tam

Translation

Sūta said: Having heard those words, the king Kāmarūpeśvara—steadfast in faith in Śaṅkara—swiftly spoke to him.

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta (the narrator)
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-बोधक अव्यय (quotative/marker of end of speech)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; ‘वचनम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• वचनम्: speech/statement
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having heard’

• कामरूपेश्वरः: the lord of Kāmarūpa
• कामरूपेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामरूप + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कामा-रूपस्य ईश्वरः)

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘कामरूपेश्वरः’ इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण (apposition)

• दृढम्: firmly
• दृढम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन-आकारान्त (adverbial use: firmly)

• शंकरविश्वासः: one whose trust is in Śaṅkara / trust in Śaṅkara
• शंकरविश्वासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर + विश्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शंकरस्य विश्वासः)

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन-आकारान्त (adverbial use: quickly)

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

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तम्: to him / that person
• तम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; संबोधित-व्यक्ति (object of speech)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Bhīmaśaṃkara

Sthala Purana: The king’s ‘dṛḍha śaṅkara-viśvāsa’ marks the turning point typical of jyotirliṅga māhātmyas: fear yields to śaraṇāgati (refuge), preparing the ground for Śiva’s grace (anugraha) associated with the kṣetra.

Significance: Models the pilgrim’s inner posture: steadfast trust in Śaṅkara amid threats and obstacles is itself a vehicle for receiving kṣetra-anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Kamarupeshvara

FAQs

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

It highlights śraddhā (steadfast faith) in Śaṅkara as the inner qualification that makes one receptive to Shiva’s grace—faith that moves from hearing (śravaṇa) to decisive action.

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

By naming Śaṅkara and emphasizing firm trust, the verse frames Saguna Shiva devotion as relational and personal—devotees respond to Shiva’s guidance (often through the Linga’s tīrtha context in Kotirudra) with prompt, committed speech and action.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to cultivate firm Śiva-bhakti through śravaṇa (hearing Purāṇic teachings) and then immediate anusandhāna—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a resolved mind.