Shloka 38

तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra

Devanagari script

तेन वज्रप्रहारेण तारको जर्जरीकृतः । भूमौ पपात सहसा निंदाहतबलः क्षणम्

Transliteration

tena vajraprahāreṇa tārako jarjarīkṛtaḥ | bhūmau papāta sahasā niṃdāhatabalaḥ kṣaṇam

Translation

Struck by that vajra-like blow, Tāraka was shattered and broken. In an instant, his strength ruined by the weight of blame and disgrace, he suddenly fell to the ground.

Word by Word

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन; 'by that/thereby'

• वज्र-प्रहारेण: by the thunderbolt-strike
• वज्र-प्रहारेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वज्रस्य प्रहारः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental—'by the blow of the thunderbolt'

• तारकः: Tāraka
• तारकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• जर्जरी-कृतः: was shattered
• जर्जरी-कृतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जर्जरी (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष/नामधातु-भाव; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) 'कृत'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः—made shattered

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative—'on the ground'

• पपात: fell
• पपात: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; अर्थः—fell

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• निन्दा-हत-बलः: whose strength was struck down by reproach
• निन्दा-हत-बलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक) + हत (हन्-धातु, क्त कृदन्त) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (निन्दया हतं बलं यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् तारकस्य

• क्षणम्: for a moment
• क्षणम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे द्वितीया-एकवचन (accusative of duration) — 'for a moment'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Characters & Entities

• Kartikeya
• Taraka

FAQs

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

It depicts the inevitable collapse of adharma: when divine power strikes, the seeming “strength” of the egoic, blameworthy will is broken instantly, showing that unrighteousness cannot stand before Shiva’s cosmic order.

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

Kartikeya’s victory is understood as the active (saguṇa) protection of Shiva’s will in the world—Shiva’s grace operates through his divine powers and attendants to restore dharma, which ultimately supports the devotee’s path to liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As a takeaway, contemplate the rapid fall of pride and adharma while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating humility and surrender to Shiva’s guidance.