Shloka 12

रामेश्वरलिङ्गप्रादुर्भावः

The Manifestation/Origin of the Rāmeśvara Liṅga

Devanagari script

राक्षसो गिरिधर्त्ता च महाबलपराक्रमः । लंकाख्यो दुर्गमो दुर्ग इंद्रजित्तनयोस्य वै

Transliteration

rākṣaso giridharttā ca mahābalaparākramaḥ | laṃkākhyo durgamo durga iṃdrajittanayosya vai

Translation

He was a Rākṣasa, famed as ‘Giridhartā’ (the mountain-bearer), possessed of immense strength and valor. He was known as Laṅkā—hard to approach, a formidable fortress—and indeed he was the son of Indrajit.

Word by Word

• राक्षसः: a demon (rākṣasa)
• राक्षसः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• गिरिधर्ता: mountain-holder
• गिरिधर्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (giri-dhartā = ‘holder of the mountain’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महाबलपराक्रमः: of great strength and prowess
• महाबलपराक्रमः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक) + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (mahā-bala-parākramaḥ = ‘of great strength and valor’)

• लङ्काख्यः: called ‘Laṅkā’
• लङ्काख्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (laṅkā-ākhyaḥ = ‘named Laṅkā/Laṅkā-named’)

• दुर्गमः: hard to approach
• दुर्गमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दुर्गः: a fortress
• दुर्गः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इन्द्रजित्-तनयः: son of Indrajit
• इन्द्रजित्-तनयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रजित् (प्रातिपदिक) + तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (indra-jit-tanayaḥ = ‘son of Indrajit’)

• अस्य: of him
• अस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Kālabhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Indrajit

FAQs

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

It contrasts worldly might—strength, valor, and impregnable fortresses—with the Purana’s deeper Shaiva theme that true refuge and liberation come from devotion to Pati (Shiva), not from power or lineage.

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

By highlighting the limits of worldly protection (a ‘durgama durga’), it implicitly points toward Saguna Shiva worship—especially the Jyotirlinga tradition in the Kotirudra Samhita—as the accessible, divine refuge that transcends fear and hostility.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to take shelter in Shiva through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regular shrine/linga worship, remembering that inner protection arises from devotion rather than external fortification.