Shloka 8

Śiva-nāma-smaraṇa and Śambhu’s Protective Manifestation

Dāruka Episode

Devanagari script

वैश्यपतिरुवाच । पाहि शंकर देवेश पाहि शंभो शिवेति च । दुष्टादस्मात्त्रिलोकेश खलहन्भक्तवत्सल

Transliteration

vaiśyapatiruvāca | pāhi śaṃkara deveśa pāhi śaṃbho śiveti ca | duṣṭādasmāttrilokeśa khalahanbhaktavatsala

Translation

Vaiśyapati said: “Protect me, O Śaṅkara, Lord of the gods! Protect me, O Śambhu—O auspicious Śiva! O Lord of the three worlds, destroyer of the wicked, lover of Your devotees—save me from this evil one.”

Word by Word

• वैश्यपतिः: the leader of the Vaiśyas (merchant-chief)
• वैश्यपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्यपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘वैश्यस्य पतिः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• पाहि: protect (me/us)
• पाहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• शंकर: O Śaṅkara
• शंकर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देवेश: O Lord of the gods
• देवेश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘देवानाम् ईशः’; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• पाहि: protect
• पाहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन (repetition for emphasis)

• शंभो: O Śambhu
• शंभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• शिव: O Śiva
• शिव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (in quotation ‘śiva iti’)

• इति: thus/‘as’
• इति: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दुष्टात्: from the wicked one
• दुष्टात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; ‘from the wicked (one)’

• अस्मात्: from this (one)
• अस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-रूप (this)

• त्रिलोकेश: O Lord of the three worlds
• त्रिलोकेश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिलोक + ईश (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘त्रिलोकस्य/त्रिलोकानाम् ईशः’; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• खलहन्: O slayer of the wicked
• खलहन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल + हन् (धातु) + क्विप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय: ‘खलान् हन्ति इति’; क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• भक्तवत्सल: O affectionate to devotees
• भक्तवत्सल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘भक्तानां वत्सलः’; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

Vaiśyapati (the merchant/leader of vaiśyas, a devotee appealing to Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models śaraṇāgati: calling Śiva by names (Śaṅkara/Śambhu/Śiva) with bhakti is portrayed as efficacious for deliverance from immediate danger and from pāśa (bondage).

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: pāhi śaṃkara deveśa pāhi śaṃbho śiveti ca | duṣṭād asmāt trilokeśa khalahan bhaktavatsala

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) in Shiva as Pati—bhaktavatsala and khalahan—showing that sincere invocation of the Lord’s names draws protective grace that removes fear and wicked obstruction.

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

The devotee calls Shiva by personal names—Śaṅkara, Śambhu, Śiva—reflecting Saguna worship where the Lord is approached as a compassionate protector; in Jyotirlinga contexts, such prayer is traditionally offered before the Linga as the living presence of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Repeated nāma-japa of Shiva’s names (especially “Śiva/Śambhu” and the Panchakshara spirit of devotion) with heartfelt surrender; as a practical takeaway, one may do mantra-japa with rudrākṣa and offer bhasma/tripundra as a sign of refuge in Shiva.