Shloka 63

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

Cause and Background

Devanagari script

दैत्यराजेन तेनातिहन्यमानास्समंततः । धैर्यं त्यक्त्वा पलायंत दिशो दश सवासवाः

Transliteration

daityarājena tenātihanyamānāssamaṃtataḥ | dhairyaṃ tyaktvā palāyaṃta diśo daśa savāsavāḥ

Translation

Assailed on every side and grievously struck by that king of demons, the Vasus and the other gods, abandoning their courage, fled in all the ten directions.

Word by Word

• दैत्य-राजेन: by the king of the demons
• दैत्य-राजेन: Karana (करण/Instrument; agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana (करण/Instrument; apposition to दैत्यराजेन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अति-हन्यमानाः: being severely attacked
• अति-हन्यमानाः: Karta (कर्ता; grammatical subject of implied passive state; refers to देवाः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग) + हन् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कालिक कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘being excessively struck/slain’

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• समन्ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense as adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), देशवाचक (from all sides)

• धैर्यम्: courage/steadfastness
• धैर्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of त्यक्त्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धैर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having abandoned’

• पलायन्त: fled
• पलायन्त: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पलाय् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• दिशः: directions
• दिशः: Karma (कर्म/Object of पलायन्त; ‘fled to’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of दिशः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्/दश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्द (numeral used adjectivally), द्वितीया-बहुवचनानुगुण (agreeing with दिशः)

• स-वासवाः: together with Indra (and the Vasus/Indras)
• स-वासवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to implied देवाः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + वासव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); अव्ययीभाव ‘सह वासवैः’ = including Indra(s)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Daitya king (king of demons)
• Devas
• Vasus

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that even devas can falter when separated from true inner steadfastness; in Shaiva thought, enduring dhairya is stabilized by reliance on Pati (Shiva), not merely by status or power.

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

In the Yuddhakhaṇḍa setting, the devas’ fear underscores the need to seek refuge in Saguna Shiva—worship of the Linga as Shiva’s gracious, accessible form—through whom protection and restoration of cosmic order are obtained.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate dhairya through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and remembrance of Shiva as protector, especially during adversity.