Shloka 1

तारकपीडितदेवशरणागतिḥ — The Devas Seek Refuge from Tāraka

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । अथ ते निर्जरास्सर्वे सुप्रणम्य प्रजेश्वरम् । तुष्टुवुः परया भक्त्या तारकेण प्रपीडिताः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | atha te nirjarāssarve supraṇamya prajeśvaram | tuṣṭuvuḥ parayā bhaktyā tārakeṇa prapīḍitāḥ

Translation

Brahmā said: Then all the deathless gods, grievously oppressed by Tāraka, bowed low before the Lord of creatures and praised Him with supreme devotion.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘they’

• निर्जराः: the gods (immortals)
• निर्जराः: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्जर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• सु-प्रणम्य: having bowed well
• सु-प्रणम्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + प्रणम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); ‘having bowed well’

• प्रजा-ईश्वरम्: the Lord of creatures
• प्रजा-ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: प्रजानाम् ईश्वरः; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तुष्टुवुः: praised
• तुष्टुवुः: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• परया: with supreme
• परया: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भक्त्या इति)

• भक्त्या: devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• तारकेण: by Tāraka
• तारकेण: Karana (करण/agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; कर्तृवाच्ये क्त-प्रयोगे करणत्वेन (agent in passive as instrumental)

• प्र-पीडिताः: oppressed
• प्र-पीडिताः: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र (उपसर्ग) + पीड् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Tāraka
• Devas
• Prajeśvara

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) and parā-bhakti: when even powerful devas are bound by adversity, the right response is humble surrender and heartfelt praise, inviting the Lord’s grace to remove suffering and restore dharma.

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

The devas approach the Lord as Prajeśvara—the compassionate personal (saguṇa) Lord who responds to devotion. In Shiva worship, the Śiva-liṅga functions as this accessible focus for surrender, praise, and receiving anugraha (divine favor).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is daily namaskāra and stuti with bhakti—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before the liṅga, offered with humility, as a discipline of surrender when facing obstacles.