Shloka 55

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

Cause and Background

Devanagari script

भुजाभ्यां तरसा दैत्यो नीत्वा द्रोणं च तं तदा । प्राक्षिपत्सागरे तूर्णं चित्रं न हरतेजसि

Transliteration

bhujābhyāṃ tarasā daityo nītvā droṇaṃ ca taṃ tadā | prākṣipatsāgare tūrṇaṃ citraṃ na haratejasi

Translation

Then the demon, with great force, seized Droṇa in his arms and swiftly hurled him into the ocean—an astonishing deed, for Droṇa’s splendor was not easily overcome.

Word by Word

• भुजाभ्याम्: with (his) two arms
• भुजाभ्याम्: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), द्विवचन; Instrumental dual

• तरसा: with force, swiftly
• तरसा: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (manner)

• दैत्यः: the demon
• दैत्यः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• नीत्वा: having taken/led
• नीत्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: नी (नेतुम्)

• द्रोणम्: Droṇa
• द्रोणम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय; conjunction

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Pronoun, Accusative singular

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय; temporal adverb

• प्राक्षिपत्: threw, cast
• प्राक्षिपत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd sg past

• सागरे: in the ocean
• सागरे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• तूर्णम्: quickly
• तूर्णम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम्; adverb of manner

• चित्रम्: strangely, wondrously
• चित्रम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; used adverbially (unusual/strangely)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय; negation particle

• हरतेजसि: in the splendor of Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरतेजसि: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर-तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): हरेः तेजः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Droṇa
• Daitya
• Hara (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It contrasts brute force with divine tejas: even when a devotee or Shiva-aligned power appears physically challenged, Hara’s radiance and protection are not truly conquered—reminding the seeker that ultimate refuge is Pati (Shiva), not mere strength.

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

By highlighting “Hara-tejas,” the verse points to Saguna Shiva’s manifest power that protects and overrules hostile forces; Linga-worship similarly centers the mind on Shiva as the visible support (ālambana) of the Infinite who governs outcomes beyond human calculation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating Shiva’s tejas as an inner shield; if performed ritually, it may be paired with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of surrender to Hara.