Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्तस्य नृपश्रेष्ठश्शंभुभक्तो दृढव्रतः । प्रत्युवाचाभयो भीमं दुःखदं जगतां सदा

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | ityuktasya nṛpaśreṣṭhaśśaṃbhubhakto dṛḍhavrataḥ | pratyuvācābhayo bhīmaṃ duḥkhadaṃ jagatāṃ sadā

Translation

Sūta said: Thus addressed, the best of kings—steadfast in his vow and a devoted worshipper of Śambhu—fearlessly replied to Bhīma, who was ever a source of suffering to the worlds.

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उद्धरणसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-शब्दः; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/quotative particle

• उक्तस्य: of the one who was spoken to / of what was said
• उक्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; पुं/नपुंसक-सम्भव (contextual)

• नृप-श्रेष्ठः: the best of kings
• नृप-श्रेष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नृपाणां श्रेष्ठः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शम्भु-भक्तः: a devotee of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भु-भक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शम्भोः भक्तः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दृढ-व्रतः: firm in vow
• दृढ-व्रतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (दृढं व्रतं यस्य/दृढव्रतः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + उद् + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अभयः: Abhaya (proper name)
• अभयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम)

• भीमम्: to Bhīma / Bhīma (as object addressed)
• भीमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दुःख-दम्: giving sorrow; sorrow-causing
• दुःख-दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + द (√दा/ददाति-सम्बद्ध प्रातिपदिक ‘द’ = दाता)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (दुःखं ददाति इति); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (भीमम् इति कर्मपदस्य विशेषणम्)

• जगताम्: of the worlds / of beings
• जगताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shambhu
• Bhima

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva ideal that steadfast devotion to Śambhu (Śiva) and firm observance of dharma (dṛḍha-vrata) gives inner fearlessness (abhaya), even when confronted by forces that cause suffering to the world.

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

By calling the king a śambhu-bhakta, the text emphasizes Saguna Śiva devotion—approaching Śiva as the compassionate Lord who protects devotees; in Kotirudrasaṃhitā this devotion commonly expresses itself through Jyotirliṅga/Śiva-liṅga worship and pilgrimage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is dṛḍha-vrata—regular worship and disciplined observance—such as daily Śiva-liṅga pūjā with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), supported by purity disciplines like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where customary.