Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

पश्य त्वं स्वामिनोऽद्यैव बलं भक्तसुखावहम् । इत्युवाच विहस्यैव राक्षसैस्स महाबलः

Transliteration

paśya tvaṃ svāmino'dyaiva balaṃ bhaktasukhāvaham | ityuvāca vihasyaiva rākṣasaissa mahābalaḥ

Translation

“Behold—today itself, behold the power of our master, the Lord, whose might brings joy to His devotees.” Saying this with a laugh, that exceedingly powerful one spoke to the rākṣasas.

Word by Word

• पश्य: see / behold
• पश्य: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वामिनः: of (your) master
• स्वामिनः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध/Possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अद्य: today / now
• अद्य: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (today/now)

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

• बलम्: power
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भक्तसुखावहम्: bringing happiness to devotees
• भक्तसुखावहम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of बलम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त-सुख-आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भक्तानां सुखम् आवहति इति)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; quotative particle

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

• विहस्य: having laughed
• विहस्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-हस् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (ल्यप्/त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थक अव्यय), अव्यय; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया—‘having laughed’

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

• राक्षसैः: with the demons
• राक्षसैः: Sahakari/Karana (सहकारी/करण—company/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

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

• महाबलः: very strong
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महद् बलम् यस्य)

Speaker

A mighty attendant/leader aligned with the Lord (narrative speaker within the Kotirudra Saṃhitā episode; relayed by Suta Goswami in the Purāṇic frame)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Bhīmaśaṃkara

Sthala Purana: The proclamation of the Lord’s ‘bhakta-sukha-āvaha’ power anticipates Bhīmeśvara’s appearance: Śiva’s might is not mere violence but grace that secures devotees’ welfare.

Significance: Strengthening śaraṇāgati (refuge) in Śiva; confidence that devotion draws protective grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights a core Shaiva Siddhanta insight: Shiva’s śakti (power) is not mere force but grace that specifically manifests as “bhakta-sukha”—the welfare and joy of devotees, affirming Pati (the Lord) as protector and benefactor.

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

By praising the Lord’s observable power “today itself,” the verse points to Saguna Shiva—Shiva known through acts of protection and blessing. Linga-worship similarly trains the devotee to recognize Shiva’s living presence and responsive grace in the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is bhakti-centered remembrance: repeat the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while contemplating Shiva as “bhakta-sukhāvaha” (giver of devotees’ good), especially during daily japa or Mahāśivarātri vrata.