Shloka 51

Devanagari script

त्रिलोककारणायाथापवर्गाय नमोनमः । अपवर्गप्रदायाशु शरणागततारिणे

Transliteration

trilokakāraṇāyāthāpavargāya namonamaḥ | apavargapradāyāśu śaraṇāgatatāriṇe

Translation

Repeated salutations to Śiva—the very cause of the three worlds and the embodiment of liberation. Swift is He to bestow mokṣa, and He ferries across all who take refuge in Him.

Word by Word

• tri-loka-kāraṇāya: to the cause of the three worlds
• tri-loka-kāraṇāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (कāraṇa), चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-परम्परा: ‘त्रिलोकस्य कारणम्’ → ‘त्रिलोककारण’

• atha: and/then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/आरम्भार्थक-अव्यय (particle: and/then)

• apavargāya: to liberation
• apavargāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apavarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• namo: salutation
• namo: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नमस्-शब्दस्य अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; नमः-कार (salutation particle)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नमस्-शब्दः अव्ययवत् (salutation)

• apavarga-pradāya: to the giver of liberation
• apavarga-pradāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apavarga (प्रातिपदिक) + pradā (प्रातिपदिक; √dā + pra + घञ्/प्रद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘अपवर्गस्य प्रदः/प्रदाता’

• āśu: quickly
• āśu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: शीघ्रार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: quickly)

• śaraṇa-āgata-tāriṇe: to the savior of those who have taken refuge
• śaraṇa-āgata-tāriṇe: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āgata (प्रातिपदिक; √gam + ā + क्त) + tārin (प्रातिपदिक; √tṝ + णिनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘शरणम् आगतान् तारयति’ → ‘शरणागततारिन्’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the hymn/prayer within the Satī Khaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Śiva as the direct giver of apavarga (mokṣa) and the savior of śaraṇāgata; supports the Siddhānta emphasis that liberation is granted by Śiva’s grace rather than by self-effort alone.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: त्रिलोककारणायाथापवर्गाय नमोनमः । अपवर्गप्रदायाशु शरणागततारिणे

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as both the cosmic cause (source of the three worlds) and the liberating Lord (apavarga), emphasizing that sincere refuge (śaraṇāgati) leads to His grace and release from saṃsāra.

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

Though Śiva is praised as the transcendent giver of mokṣa, devotees approach Him through saguna worship—such as the Śiva-liṅga—where surrender, praise, and service become the means by which His liberating grace is received.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice śaraṇāgati with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and daily liṅga-pūjā (water/abhiṣeka), holding the inner intent: “O Śiva, ferry me across saṃsāra and grant apavarga.”