Shloka 16

Devanagari script

शक्रादयो लोकपाला वसवश्च सुरास्तथा । महाराजिकदेवाश्च साध्याश्च शिवपूजकाः

Transliteration

śakrādayo lokapālā vasavaśca surāstathā | mahārājikadevāśca sādhyāśca śivapūjakāḥ

Translation

Indra and the other guardians of the worlds, the Vasus, and the hosts of the Devas—likewise the Mahārājika deities and the Sādhyas—all are worshippers of Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• śakra-ādayaḥ: Indra and others
• śakra-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Bahuvacana (Plural); ādi-śabdaḥ ‘and others’ (ādi-anta-samāsa)

• lokapālāḥ: world-guardians
• lokapālāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (loka-pālāḥ = ‘guardians of the worlds’)

• vasavaḥ: the Vasus
• vasavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction)

• surāḥ: the gods
• surāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb)

• mahā-rājika-devāḥ: the Mahārājika deities
• mahā-rājika-devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + rājika (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; karmadhāraya (mahārājikāḥ devāḥ = ‘the Mahārājika gods’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction)

• sādhyāḥ: the Sādhyas
• sādhyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction)

• śiva-pūjakāḥ: worshippers of Śiva
• śiva-pūjakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; upapada-tatpuruṣa (śivaṃ pūjayanti iti)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra
• Lokapalas
• Vasus
• Sadhyas
• Maharajika Devas

FAQs

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

It declares the universality of Śiva-bhakti: even the highest cosmic administrators—Indra, the Lokapālas, and other celestial classes—take refuge in worship of Śiva as Pati (the supreme Lord), implying that liberation and auspiciousness ultimately depend on devotion to Śiva.

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

In the Kotirudra context (Jyotirliṅga glorification), the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching Śiva through worshipful forms such as the Liṅga—showing that divine beings themselves honor Śiva through pūjā, reinforcing the Liṅga as a valid and exalted focus of devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steady Śiva-pūjā with mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—along with simple offerings (water, bilva leaves) and, where appropriate, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supportive Shaiva disciplines.