Shloka 12

Śiva-nāma-smaraṇa and Śambhu’s Protective Manifestation

Dāruka Episode

Devanagari script

पूजितश्च तदा शंभुः प्रसन्नो ह्यभवत्स्वयम् । अस्त्रं पाशुपतं नाम दत्त्वा राक्षसपुंगवान्

Transliteration

pūjitaśca tadā śaṃbhuḥ prasanno hyabhavatsvayam | astraṃ pāśupataṃ nāma dattvā rākṣasapuṃgavān

Translation

Then Śambhu, duly worshipped, became pleased of His own accord; and He bestowed the weapon called Pāśupata upon the foremost of the Rākṣasas.

Word by Word

• pūjitaḥ: worshipped/honoured
• pūjitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūjita (कृदन्त; √pūj पूज् धातु)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); Kta-participle (क्त) used adjectivally

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• śaṃbhuḥ: Śambhu (Śiva)
• śaṃbhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• prasannaḥ: pleased
• prasannaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; adjective qualifying śaṃbhuḥ

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/emphasis (निपात)

• abhavat: became/was
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/लङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Reflexive adverb (स्वयंबोधक अव्यय)

• astram: weapon
• astram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• pāśupatam: Pāśupata (of Paśupati)
• pāśupatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāśupata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adjective qualifying astram

• nāma: named
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle indicating name (नाम-प्रयोग निपात)

• dattvā: having given
• dattvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dattvā (कृदन्त; √dā दा धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त अव्यय)

• rākṣasa-puṃgavān: the chief of the rākṣasas
• rākṣasa-puṃgavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + puṃgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (genitive-determinative): 'rākṣasānāṃ puṃgavaḥ'

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana account to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Śambhu)
• Paśupati (as Pāśupata Astra)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace): when worship is offered with proper reverence, the Lord becomes pleased spontaneously and empowers the devotee—showing that divine favor is rooted in devotion and right approach, not mere status.

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

Śambhu being “pleased after worship” reflects Saguna Śiva responding to upāsanā (ritual devotion), commonly centered on the Śiva-liṅga. In Shaiva Siddhanta, such worship purifies the paśu (bound soul) and draws the Lord’s grace that loosens pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies disciplined Śiva-pūjā—liṅgārcana with mantra (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with purity observances; the takeaway is that steady bhakti and correct worship invite Śiva’s protective empowerment.