Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

देवानपि कृतद्रोहान् ज्वालामालासमाकुलः । ज्वालय ज्वलनैश्शीघ्रं माध्यायाध्यायपालकम्

Transliteration

devānapi kṛtadrohān jvālāmālāsamākulaḥ | jvālaya jvalanaiśśīghraṃ mādhyāyādhyāyapālakam

Translation

Even the gods who have committed treachery—being encircled by garlands of flames—burn them at once with blazing fires, O protector and preserver of the sacred recitations and their proper order.

Word by Word

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; 'also/even'

• कृत-द्रोहान्: treacherous / having committed betrayal
• कृत-द्रोहान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ-धातु, क्त) + द्रोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभावः: 'कृतः द्रोहः येषां ते' (those who have committed treachery)

• ज्वाला-माला-समाकुलः: surrounded by garlands of flames
• ज्वाला-माला-समाकुलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वाला + माला + समाकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: 'ज्वालामालया समाकुलः' (filled/covered with garlands of flames)

• ज्वालय: burn
• ज्वालय: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-भाव (cause to burn)

• ज्वलनैः: with fires/flames
• ज्वलनैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• माध्याय-अध्याय-पालकम्: the protector/guardian of the Madhyāya chapter (textual epithet)
• माध्याय-अध्याय-पालकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माध्याय + अध्याय + पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: 'माध्यायाध्यायस्य पालकः' (protector of the Madhyāya-adhyāya); पाठभेदसम्भवः

Speaker

Satī (invoking fiery chastisement in the Dakṣa-yajña context, as narrated within Rudra Saṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Dakṣa-yajña: the ‘devas’ are not exempt when they become kṛtadroha (betrayers). The verse frames cosmic hierarchy as subordinate to Śiva’s dharma.

Significance: Reinforces Śaiva Siddhānta’s ethic: even ‘divine’ status does not remove pāśa (bondage) when pride/treachery persists; only alignment with Pati yields safety.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Satī
• Śiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that even exalted beings are accountable to dharma; betrayal against Śiva and sacred truth invites purifying consequence, affirming Śiva as the upholder of cosmic and scriptural order.

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

The verse points to Saguna Śiva as the active guardian of ṛta (cosmic order) and śāstra; devotion to the Liṅga is devotion to that protecting presence which corrects adharma and restores harmony.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a resolve for truthfulness and non-betrayal, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of purification.