Shloka 34

तारकपीडितदेवशरणागतिḥ — The Devas Seek Refuge from Tāraka

Devanagari script

तामग्रतोऽर्च्चमानां वै त्रैलोक्ये वरवर्णिनीम् । ध्यानसक्तो महेशो हि मनसापि न हीयते

Transliteration

tāmagrato'rccamānāṃ vai trailokye varavarṇinīm | dhyānasakto maheśo hi manasāpi na hīyate

Translation

Even as that exquisitely radiant Lady—most beautiful in the three worlds—worshipped before Him, Maheśa remained absorbed in meditation; not even in mind did He withdraw from His inner contemplation.

Word by Word

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम); Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• agrataḥ: in front
• agrataḥ: Deśādhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agratas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb: “in front/presently”

• arccamānām: being worshipped
• arccamānām: Karma (कर्म) with participial qualifier
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ/शानच्), Ātmanepada (शानच्), Feminine, Accusative Singular agreeing with tām; from √arc “to worship”

• vai: indeed
• vai: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) for emphasis/indeed

• trailokye: in the three worlds
• trailokye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trailokya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• vara-varṇinīm: of excellent complexion/beauty
• vara-varṇinīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of tām
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (विशेषण-विशेष्यभाव); Feminine, Accusative Singular agreeing with tām

• dhyāna-saktaḥ: absorbed in meditation
• dhyāna-saktaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of maheśaḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक) + sakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: dhyāne saktaḥ); Masculine, Nominative Singular

• maheśaḥ: Maheśa (Śiva)
• maheśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• hi: for/indeed
• hi: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) giving reason/emphasis

• manasā: by the mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• api: even
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात): “also/even”

• na: not
• na: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• hīyate: is diminished/turns away
• hīyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Passive (कर्मणि), 3rd person, Singular; from √hā “to leave/abandon; to fall short”

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa account to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who remains firmly established in dhyāna—symbolizing unwavering inner realization—while still being present to receive devotion; it teaches that liberation is rooted in steady inward absorption, not disturbed by external activity.

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

Pārvatī’s arcanā represents saguna-upāsanā (personal worship), while Śiva’s unbroken dhyāna points to His nirguna steadiness; the verse implies that Linga worship is most complete when outer offerings are joined with inner contemplation of Śiva as the indwelling Reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain japa and dhyāna alongside pūjā—such as mentally repeating the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") during offerings—cultivating one-pointedness (ekāgratā) so the mind does not ‘turn away’ from Śiva.