Shloka 26

Devanagari script

सर्वे मूर्त्तिधराः क्रूराः स्वर लोकभयंकराः । स्वतेजसा प्रज्वलंतो दहंत इव सर्वतः

Transliteration

sarve mūrttidharāḥ krūrāḥ svara lokabhayaṃkarāḥ | svatejasā prajvalaṃto dahaṃta iva sarvataḥ

Translation

All of them were embodied beings, fierce and terrifying even to the celestial realms; blazing with their own innate radiance, they seemed to burn everything on every side.

Word by Word

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mūrti-dharāḥ: bearing forms
• mūrti-dharāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘form-bearers’

• krūrāḥ: fierce
• krūrāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• svara-loka-bhayaṃkarāḥ: terrifying to the heavenly world
• svara-loka-bhayaṃkarāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svara (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक) + bhayaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘causing fear to the heavenly world’

• sva-tejasā: by their own radiance
• sva-tejasā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘by their own splendor’

• prajvalantaḥ: blazing
• prajvalantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject descriptor)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√jval (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमान-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन): ‘blazing’

• dahantaḥ: burning
• dahantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject descriptor)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dah (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमान-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन): ‘burning’

• iva: as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle (उपमा-निपात): ‘as if/like’

• sarvataḥ: everywhere
• sarvataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Adverbial locus)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय): ‘from all sides/everywhere’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights overwhelming tejas (spiritual power) manifesting in fierce forms—reminding the seeker that Shiva’s śakti can appear terrifying to the ego and even to celestial beings, yet it is ultimately a purifying force that burns impurities and bondage.

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

These fearsome, radiant forms point to Saguna manifestations of Shiva’s power in the narrative world, while Linga-worship steadies the mind on Shiva as the transcendent Pati beyond all forms—teaching devotion that is not shaken by awe or fear.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with calm breath and vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) remembrance—contemplating that Shiva’s blazing tejas burns inner tamas, fear, and karmic knots.