Shloka 17

तारकपीडितदेवशरणागतिḥ — The Devas Seek Refuge from Tāraka

Devanagari script

त्वं नो गतिश्च शास्ता च धाता त्राता त्वमेव हि । वयं सर्वे तारकाख्यवह्नौ दग्धास्सुविह्वलाः

Transliteration

tvaṃ no gatiśca śāstā ca dhātā trātā tvameva hi | vayaṃ sarve tārakākhyavahnau dagdhāssuvihvalāḥ

Translation

You alone are our refuge and our guide; You are the ruler, the sustainer, and the protector. We all have been scorched by the fire called Tāraka, and we are utterly shaken and distressed.

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नः: of us, our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘our/of us’

• गतिः: refuge, goal
• गतिः: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शास्ता: ruler, instructor
• शास्ता: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास् (धातु)
• Form: तृच् (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one who rules/instructs’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• धाता: supporter, creator
• धाता: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: तृच् (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘supporter/creator’

• त्राता: protector
• त्राता: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रा (धातु)
• Form: तृच् (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘protector/savior’

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एव: indeed, alone
• एव: Nipata (निपात/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Nipata (निपात/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थे निपात (particle: for/indeed)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (वयम्)

• तारक-आख्य-वह्नौ: in the fire called Tāraka
• तारक-आख्य-वह्नौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘तारक-आख्यः वह्निः’ (the fire named Tāraka)

• दग्धाः: burnt
• दग्धाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘burnt’

• सु-विह्वलाः: greatly distressed
• सु-विह्वलाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘अत्यन्तं विह्वलाः’

Speaker

The Devas (gods), collectively, appealing in supplication

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it is a śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) statement by devas afflicted by Tāraka’s ‘fire’.

Significance: Models śaraṇāgati: acknowledging Śiva (with Umā) as gati (refuge), śāstā (governor), dhātā (sustainer), trātā (protector) is held to attract anugraha and remove pāśa-like afflictions.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: tvaṃ no gatiśca śāstā ca dhātā trātā tvameva hi

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Tāraka

FAQs

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

The verse expresses śaraṇāgati (total surrender): recognizing the Supreme Lord as refuge, governor, sustainer, and protector when worldly powers are “burned” by suffering—an essential Shaiva Siddhanta stance where Pati (Shiva) alone grants protection and release.

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

By addressing the Lord as the active ruler and protector, the verse aligns with Saguna worship—approaching Shiva as a compassionate, responsive Lord. In Shiva Purana practice, such surrender is naturally offered before the Shiva Linga as the accessible presence of Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform śaraṇāgati with japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), coupled with simple Linga-archana (water/flowers) and prayer for protection and inner steadiness amid “burning” distress.