Shloka 42

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

Cause and Background

Devanagari script

गत्वा त्रिविष्टपं दैत्यो नन्दनाधिष्ठितोऽभवत् । सर्व सैन्यं समावृत्य कुर्वाणः सिंहवद्रवम्

Transliteration

gatvā triviṣṭapaṃ daityo nandanādhiṣṭhito'bhavat | sarva sainyaṃ samāvṛtya kurvāṇaḥ siṃhavadravam

Translation

Having gone to Triviṣṭapa (the heaven of the gods), the Daitya took his stand in Nandana (Indra’s celestial garden). Encircling the entire army, he raised a roar like a lion—terrifying and warlike.

Word by Word

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriya (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (having gone)

• त्रिविष्टपम्: to heaven (Triviṣṭapa)
• त्रिविष्टपम्: Karma (कर्म/गन्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिविष्टप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दैत्यः: the demon
• दैत्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नन्दन-अधिष्ठितः: stationed in Nandana (garden)
• नन्दन-अधिष्ठितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिष्ठित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (नन्दने अधिष्ठितः = stationed in Nandana)

• अभवत्: became/was
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• सर्वम्: entire
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणं—सैन्यम्

• सैन्यम्: army
• सैन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समावृत्य: having surrounded
• समावृत्य: Kriya (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (having surrounded/covered)

• कुर्वाणः: doing/making
• कुर्वाणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सिंहवत्: like a lion
• सिंहवत्: Kriya (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सिंहवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (indeclinable of comparison: like a lion)

• रवम्: roar/cry
• रवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Daitya
• Triviṣṭapa (Svarga)
• Nandana (Indra’s garden)

FAQs

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

The verse depicts adharma’s aggressive surge—symbolized by the Daitya’s lion-like roar in heaven—showing how arrogance can temporarily overtake even exalted realms; Shaiva understanding emphasizes that such power is unstable and is ultimately corrected by the Lord’s order (Śiva as Pati) and the restoration of dharma.

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

Though the verse is martial in tone, it supports Saguna Śiva devotion by highlighting that cosmic governance is not merely abstract: the Lord’s protective, world-ordering grace is invoked through worship (including the Liṅga), especially when adharma ‘surrounds’ and pressures the devotees or the devas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter fear and intimidation with steadiness in japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and to anchor the mind through simple Śaiva observances like applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and maintaining inward courage (dhairya) during adversity.