Shloka 2

व्योमवाणी-श्रवणं, गणानां शरणागमनं, सती-दाह-वृत्तान्तः — Hearing the Heavenly Voice; The Gaṇas Seek Refuge; Account of Satī’s Self-Immolation

Devanagari script

पराजिताः शिवगणा भृगुमंत्रबलेन वै । किमकार्षुः कुत्र गतास्तत्त्वं वद महामते

Transliteration

parājitāḥ śivagaṇā bhṛgumaṃtrabalena vai | kimakārṣuḥ kutra gatāstattvaṃ vada mahāmate

Translation

Truly, the hosts of Śiva’s attendants were defeated by the power of Bhṛgu’s mantras. What did they do then, and where did they go? O great sage, tell me the true account.

Word by Word

• पराजिताः: defeated
• पराजिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराजित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘defeated’

• शिवगणाः: Śiva’s gaṇas
• शिवगणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘शिवस्य गणाः’

• भृगुमंत्रबलेन: by the power of Bhṛgu’s mantra
• भृगुमंत्रबलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु-मन्त्र-बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘भृगोः मन्त्रस्य बलम्’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निश्चयार्थक/पादपूरक)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• अकार्षुः: did
• अकार्षुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• कुत्र: where?
• कुत्र: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (प्रश्नवाचक देशवाचक)

• गताः: went / have gone
• गताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्तरि अर्थ ‘gone’

• तत्त्वम्: the truth, the reality
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वद: tell
• वद: Preraka-kriya (प्रेरणार्थ क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महामते: O great-minded one
• महामते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महान् मतिः यस्य’ (as epithet)

Speaker

The sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (questioning Sūta Gosvāmin, inferred from Purāṇic dialogue style in the Rudrasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Mantra-śakti overpowering the gaṇas within the Dakṣa-yajña conflict

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhṛgu
• Shiva Ganas

FAQs

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

It highlights that mantra-śakti can produce worldly victory even over mighty beings, yet the “tattva” (true meaning) lies in understanding Shiva as Pati—the supreme governor—whose divine play allows such outcomes to teach humility, dharma, and reliance on Shiva’s grace.

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

Even when Shiva’s gaṇas appear defeated, Saguna Shiva remains the refuge and regulator of all powers. Linga-worship emphasizes turning from mere force (including mantra used for dominance) toward devotion and surrender to Shiva’s supreme presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined mantra-japa with right intention—especially the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—combined with humility; practitioners may support japa with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva aids to steadiness and Shiva-remembrance.