Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

दावानलगतो वह्निर्यथा च वनमादहेत् । तथा शिवेन क्रुद्धेन राक्षसानां बलं क्षणात्

Transliteration

dāvānalagato vahniryathā ca vanamādahet | tathā śivena kruddhena rākṣasānāṃ balaṃ kṣaṇāt

Translation

Just as fire, driven by a forest-conflagration, burns up the woodland, so too, when Śiva becomes wrathful, the might of the Rākṣasas is consumed in an instant.

Word by Word

• दावानल-गतः: having become a forest-fire
• दावानल-गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दावानल (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त; √गम् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः—‘दावानले गतः’ (gone into/associated with wildfire)

• वह्निः: fire
• वह्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative: ‘as/just as’)

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

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• आ-दहेत्: would burn
• आ-दहेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दह् (धातु) उपसर्ग: आ-
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तथा: so/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदनुरूप्ये (so/likewise)

• शिवेन: by Shiva
• शिवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण (by Shiva)

• क्रुद्धेन: angered
• क्रुद्धेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध (कृदन्त; √क्रुध् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; शिवस्य विशेषणम्

• राक्षसानाम्: of the demons
• राक्षसानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (of the demons)

• बलम्: strength/force
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; (elliptic verb understood: ‘was destroyed’)

• क्षणात्: in a moment
• क्षणात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; अपादान/काल-निर्देश (from/within a moment)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rakshasas

FAQs

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

It proclaims Śiva as Pati—the supreme Lord whose conscious power can dissolve adharmic force instantly, showing that evil has no independent permanence before the Divine.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—God with attributes—who actively protects devotees and restores dharma; Linga-worship venerates this same supreme reality as both immanent protector and transcendent Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Take refuge in Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and cultivate humility; the practical takeaway is surrender and steady devotion rather than fear of hostile forces.