Shloka 49

दक्षस्य विष्णुं प्रति शरणागतिḥ — Dakṣa’s Appeal to Viṣṇu and the Teaching on Disrespect to Śiva

Devanagari script

यदद्य क्रियतेस्माभिः पलायनमितस्तदा । शार्वो ना कर्षकश्शस्त्रैरस्मानाकर्षयिष्यति

Transliteration

yadadya kriyatesmābhiḥ palāyanamitastadā | śārvo nā karṣakaśśastrairasmānākarṣayiṣyati

Translation

If today we try to flee from here, then Śarva (Lord Śiva) will surely drag us back—like a farmer pulling with his implements.

Word by Word

• yat: whatever/that which
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• adya: today/now
• adya: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• kriyate: is done
• kriyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Passive sense (कर्मणि प्रयोग)

• asmābhiḥ: by us
• asmābhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); pronoun

• palāyanam: flight/running away
• palāyanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: palāyana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• itaḥ: from here/hence
• itaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: itaḥ (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (अपादानार्थक-अव्यय)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• śārvaḥ: Śarva (Śiva)
• śārvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śārva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); epithet of Śiva

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• karṣakaḥ: a ploughman/one who drags
• karṣakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karṣaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śastraiḥ: with weapons
• śastraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• asmān: us
• asmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); pronoun

• ākarṣayiṣyati: will drag/pull (towards)
• ākarṣayiṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√kṛṣ (कृष् धातु)
• Form: Future tense (लृट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Dakṣa’s party (the fearful attendants/associates opposing Śiva), as narrated by Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes Śiva’s sovereignty as Pati: attempts to run from dharma or from the consequences of hostility toward Śiva are futile, because the Lord’s power ultimately brings beings back under truth—either through grace or corrective force.

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

Calling Śiva “Śarva” highlights Saguna Śiva as the active Lord who governs the world and restrains arrogance. Linga-worship cultivates surrender (śaraṇāgati), replacing the impulse to “flee” from Śiva’s presence with devotion and reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is surrender through japa and devotion—especially Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—to align the mind with Śiva rather than resisting Him; this reduces fear and karmic agitation.