Shloka 24

राहोः शिरच्छेदन-कारणकथनम् / The Account of Rāhu’s Beheading

Cause and Background

Devanagari script

घस्मर उवाच । जलंधरोऽब्धि तनयस्सर्वदैत्यजनेश्वरः । सुप्रतापी महावीरस्स्वयं कविसहायवान्

Transliteration

ghasmara uvāca | jalaṃdharo'bdhi tanayassarvadaityajaneśvaraḥ | supratāpī mahāvīrassvayaṃ kavisahāyavān

Translation

Ghasmara said: “Jalandhara, the son of the Ocean, is the sovereign of all the hosts of the Daityas. Mighty in prowess, a great hero, he is upheld by Kavi himself.”

Word by Word

• घस्मरः: Ghasmara
• घस्मरः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घस्मर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन; वक्ता (speaker)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• जलंधरः: Jalandhara
• जलंधरः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलंधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन

• अब्दि-तनयः: son of the ocean
• अब्दि-तनयः: कर्ता (Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अब्दि (प्रातिपदिक) + तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘अब्देः तनयः’

• सर्व-दैत्य-जन-ईश्वरः: lord of all the hosts of demons
• सर्व-दैत्य-जन-ईश्वरः: कर्ता (Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘सर्वेषां दैत्यजनानाम् ईश्वरः’ बहु-षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे तत्पुरुष

• सु-प्रतापी: very mighty
• सु-प्रतापी: कर्ता (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + प्रतापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण (जलंधरः)

• महा-वीरः: great hero
• महा-वीरः: कर्ता (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (reflexive adverb)

• कवि-सहायवान्: having Kavi as an ally
• कवि-सहायवान्: कर्ता (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कवि (प्रातिपदिक) + सहायवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘कविः सहायः यस्य’ इत्यर्थे (उपपद-समास/बहुव्रीह्यर्थे रूढ)

Speaker

Ghasmara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Jalandhara
• Abdhi (Ocean)
• Daityas
• Kavi (Shukra)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how worldly sovereignty and even the support of great intelligence (Kavi/Śukra) can magnify asuric pride; in Shaiva understanding, power without surrender to Pati (Śiva) binds the soul more tightly in pāśa (bondage).

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

By portraying Jalandhara’s formidable might, the text sets the stage for the supremacy of Saguna Śiva—whose grace and authority surpass all daityic strength—underscoring why devotees take refuge in the Liṅga as the accessible form of the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter pride with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and humble devotion, remembering that true strength is steadied by Śiva-bhakti rather than mere alliance, strategy, or force.