Shloka 6

Śiva-nāma-smaraṇa and Śambhu’s Protective Manifestation

Dāruka Episode

Devanagari script

तदुक्तास्ते तदा हंतुं नानायुधधरा गताः । द्रुतं तं वैश्यशार्दूलं शंकरासक्तचेतसम्

Transliteration

taduktāste tadā haṃtuṃ nānāyudhadharā gatāḥ | drutaṃ taṃ vaiśyaśārdūlaṃ śaṃkarāsaktacetasam

Translation

Thus instructed, they at once set out to kill him, bearing many kinds of weapons, rushing swiftly toward that lion among Vaiśyas whose mind was steadfastly devoted to Śaṅkara.

Word by Word

• तत्-उक्ताः: thus addressed
• तत्-उक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त, √वच् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; तत्पुरुषः (तदुक्ताः = 'thus addressed/so told')

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (then)

• हन्तुम्: to kill
• हन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive) अव्ययभाव; 'to kill'

• नाना-आयुध-धराः: bearing various weapons
• नाना-आयुध-धराः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त, √धृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः (आयुधधर = weapon-bearer) with नाना as qualifier

• गताः: went
• गताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गत (कृदन्त, √गम् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त used predicatively (they went)

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुतम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-रूप)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: quickly)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वैश्य-शार्दूलम्: the tiger among Vaiśyas
• वैश्य-शार्दूलम्: Karma (कर्म) (apposition to तम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वैश्यानां शार्दूलः = tiger among Vaiśyas)

• शंकर-आसक्त-चेतसम्: whose mind was attached to Śaṅkara
• शंकर-आसक्त-चेतसम्: Karma (कर्म) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक) + आसक्त (कृदन्त, √सञ्ज्/√सज् धातु) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः (शंकरासक्तं चेतः यस्य/whose mind attached to Śaṅkara—formally tatpurusha as 'Śaṅkara-attached-mind')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Shankara)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that unwavering bhakti—being mentally absorbed in Śaṅkara—becomes the devotee’s inner refuge even when outer threats arise, a recurring Shaiva Siddhanta theme where grace protects and purifies the bound soul (paśu) amid worldly hostility.

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

By naming Śaṅkara and emphasizing single-minded attachment, the verse points to saguna-upāsanā—devotion to Shiva as a personal Lord—commonly expressed through Linga worship and remembrance of Shiva’s form and qualities, which steadies the mind against fear and aggression.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is mental fixation on Shiva through japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady smaraṇa (remembrance); in practice, devotees often reinforce this with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to continuous Shiva-mindedness.