Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

नारद उवाच । क्षम्यतां क्षम्यतां नाथ त्वया विभ्रमकारक । तृणेकश्च कुठारो वै हन्यतां शीघ्रमेव हि

Transliteration

nārada uvāca | kṣamyatāṃ kṣamyatāṃ nātha tvayā vibhramakāraka | tṛṇekaśca kuṭhāro vai hanyatāṃ śīghrameva hi

Translation

Nārada said: “Forgive me, forgive me, O Lord. You are the One who causes delusion (and also dispels it). A mere blade of grass and an axe are not the same—so strike me quickly indeed.”

Word by Word

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• क्षम्यताम्: may it be forgiven
• क्षम्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (let it be forgiven)

• क्षम्यताम्: may it be forgiven
• क्षम्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; पुनरुक्ति (emphasis)

• नाथ: O Lord
• नाथ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण/Instrument; agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• विभ्रम-कारक: O causer of delusion
• विभ्रम-कारक: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभ्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विभ्रमस्य कारकः)

• तृण-एकः: a single blade of grass
• तृण-एकः: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृण (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (एकं तृणम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• कुठारः: an axe
• कुठारः: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुठार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक निपात

• हन्यताम्: let it be struck/destroyed
• हन्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (let it be struck/killed)

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल-प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• एव: certainly/just
• एव: Sambandha (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेतौ/अवधारणे

Speaker

Narada

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: क्षम्यतां क्षम्यतां नाथ

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse highlights bhakti marked by humility: the devotee admits error, seeks forgiveness, and accepts Shiva’s corrective grace—recognizing Shiva as Pati who can both cast and remove delusion, leading the soul toward purification and liberation.

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

It reflects surrender to Saguna Shiva—the compassionate Lord who responds to devotion and rectifies the devotee’s misunderstanding. In Linga-worship, this inner attitude (kṣamā-yācñā, repentance) is central: approaching Shiva not as an equal, but as the supreme refuge and purifier.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is kṣamā-prārthanā (a forgiveness prayer) before and after Shiva-pūjā, combined with steady japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to dispel vibhrama (inner confusion) and re-establish devotion and clarity.