Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

सर्वे ते राक्षसा दग्धाः शंकरेण क्षणं मुने । बभूवुस्तत्र सर्वेषां देवानां पश्यताद्भुतम्

Transliteration

sarve te rākṣasā dagdhāḥ śaṃkareṇa kṣaṇaṃ mune | babhūvustatra sarveṣāṃ devānāṃ paśyatādbhutam

Translation

O sage, in a single instant those rākṣasas were all burned up by Śaṅkara. Right there, before the very eyes of all the devas, a wondrous event took place.

Word by Word

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘all’ (qualifying subject)

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• राक्षसाः: demons (rakṣasas)
• राक्षसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• दग्धाः: burnt
• दग्धाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दह् (धातु) → दग्ध (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; predicate adjective

• शंकरेण: by Śaṅkara
• शंकरेण: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; agent/instrument in passive sense

• क्षणम्: in a moment
• क्षणम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कालावधि (duration)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• बभूवुः: became
• बभूवुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (locative adverb)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; ‘of all’

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; dependent genitive with पश्यता

• पश्यता: while (they were) watching
• पश्यता: Karana (करण/सहभाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पश् (धातु) → पश्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; ‘while seeing’ (instrumental of attendant circumstance)

• अद्भुतम्: a marvel
• अद्भुतम्: Karma/Pratipādya (कर्म/प्रातिपाद्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here predicate nominative with बभूवुः (impersonal sense: ‘it was a wonder’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Devas
• Rakshasas

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva as Pati (the Lord) whose grace can dissolve destructive forces instantly—symbolically, the burning of inner rākṣasic qualities like pride, cruelty, and delusion when one turns toward Him.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva (Śaṅkara) acting in the world to protect dharma; Linga-worship trains the devotee to recognize that same protecting, purifying Presence as the living power behind all sacred forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Take refuge in Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and inwardly visualize impurities being ‘burned’ by Śiva’s light, paired with simple daily Śiva-pūjā (water offering) as an act of surrender.