Shloka 3

Śiva-nāma-smaraṇa and Śambhu’s Protective Manifestation

Dāruka Episode

Devanagari script

राजापि तत्र चागत्य राक्षसानां स दारुकः । विह्वलस्सबलश्शीघ्रं पर्यपृच्छच्च तं शिवम्

Transliteration

rājāpi tatra cāgatya rākṣasānāṃ sa dārukaḥ | vihvalassabalaśśīghraṃ paryapṛcchacca taṃ śivam

Translation

Then King Dāruka of the Rākṣasas also came there. Distressed, yet accompanied by his forces, he swiftly questioned Lord Śiva, seeking refuge and protection in the Supreme Lord.

Word by Word

• राजा: the king
• राजा: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (sg)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (particle: also/even)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb: there)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction: and)

• आगत्य: having come
• आगत्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ+गम् (धातु) → आगत्य (क्त्वा/ल्यप् अव्ययभाव)
• Form: कृदन्त-अव्यय (gerund/क्त्वान्त), पूर्वक्रिया (having come)

• राक्षसानाम्: of the demons
• राक्षसानाम्: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन (pl)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (sg)

• दारुकः: Dāruka
• दारुकः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (sg); व्यक्तिनाम (proper name)

• विह्वलः: agitated, distressed
• विह्वलः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (sg); विशेषण (qualifies सः/दारुकः)

• सबलः: with his forces / accompanied by troops
• सबलः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (sg); 'स-' = सहित (with)

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन (adverbial accusative), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: quickly)

• पर्यपृच्छत्: asked, inquired
• पर्यपृच्छत्: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि+प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (and)

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (sg)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन (sg); देवतावाचक (name of Śiva)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse depicts a rākṣasa king approaching and questioning Śiva in distress—an archetypal ‘śaraṇāgati’ moment; not explicitly mapped here to a named Jyotirliṅga in the provided text.

Significance: Models the turning-point where even an adversarial being seeks refuge; emphasizes Śiva as Paśupati who can loosen pāśa (bondage/fear) through grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daruka

FAQs

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

It shows that even a powerful ruler, when shaken by suffering, turns to Śiva as Pati—the supreme protector and liberator—implying that surrender and inquiry before the Lord is the first step toward grace and release from bondage.

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

The verse depicts direct approach to Śiva in His approachable (saguṇa) form as protector and refuge—mirroring how devotees approach the Śiva-liṅga at Jyotirlinga sites to seek protection, resolution of fear, and the Lord’s compassionate response.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) expressed through prayer and inquiry before Śiva—supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and devotional worship at a liṅga (abhisheka) when facing distress.