Shloka 12

तारकपीडितदेवशरणागतिḥ — The Devas Seek Refuge from Tāraka

Devanagari script

यावत्यो वनितास्सर्वा ये चाप्यप्सरसां गणाः । सर्वांस्तानग्रहीद्दैत्यस्तारकोऽसौ महाबली

Transliteration

yāvatyo vanitāssarvā ye cāpyapsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ | sarvāṃstānagrahīddaityastārako'sau mahābalī

Translation

All the women there were, and even the hosts of Apsarases—every one of them—were seized by that mighty Daitya, Tāraka.

Word by Word

• यावत्यः: as many as
• यावत्यः: कर्ता (Karta; subject of implied 'were')
• Type: Noun
• Root: यावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (relative quantifier)

• वनिताः: women
• वनिताः: कर्ता (Karta; in relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्—वनिताः

• ये: who/which
• ये: कर्ता (Karta; subject of implied 'were')
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अप्यर्थे (also/even)

• अप्सरसाम्: of the apsarases
• अप्सरसाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• गणाः: groups
• गणाः: कर्ता (Karta; in relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्—तान्

• तान्: them
• तान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• अग्रहीत्: seized/captured
• अग्रहीत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः अ- (augment)

• दैत्यः: the demon
• दैत्यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तारकः: Tāraka
• तारकः: कर्ता (Karta; apposition to daityaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• असौ: that (one)/he
• असौ: कर्ता (Karta; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• महाबली: mighty/very powerful
• महाबली: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबलिन् (प्रातिपदिक: महा + बलिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—तारकः/दैत्यः; कर्मधारयः (very strong)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Tāraka
• Daityas
• Apsarases

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how adharma, embodied by Tāraka, turns beings into objects of possession. In a Shaiva Siddhānta lens, this reflects the soul (paśu) being bound by forces of bondage (pāśa) until grace and right order are restored under the Lord (Pati).

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

Tāraka’s oppression sets the narrative need for divine intervention. Devotion to Saguna Śiva (and the Śiva-liṅga as His merciful, accessible form) is presented throughout the Purāṇa as the refuge that re-establishes dharma when worldly powers become tyrannical.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As a practical takeaway, one may take refuge in Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and daily worship with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) as a reminder to resist inner “Tāraka-like” impulses of domination, fear, and attachment.