Shloka 34

जालन्धरस्य दूतप्रेषणम् — Jalandhara Sends an Envoy to Kailāsa

The Provocation of Śiva

Devanagari script

राहुरुवाच । देवदेव महेशान पाहि मां शरणा गतम् । सुराऽसुरैस्सदा वन्द्यः परमैश्वर्यवान् प्रभुः

Transliteration

rāhuruvāca | devadeva maheśāna pāhi māṃ śaraṇā gatam | surā'suraissadā vandyaḥ paramaiśvaryavān prabhuḥ

Translation

Rāhu said: “O God of gods, O Maheśāna, protect me—I have come seeking refuge. You are ever worshipped by both devas and asuras; you are the sovereign Lord, endowed with supreme lordship.”

Word by Word

• राहुः: Rāhu
• राहुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• देवदेव: O God of gods
• देवदेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (देवानां देवः)

• महेशान: O Maheśāna
• महेशान: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पाहि: protect
• पाहि: Kriyā (क्रिया/Request action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म; goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे द्वितीया (as goal)

• गतम्: having come (to)
• गतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘gone/come’ (agreeing with माम् understood)

• सुरासुरैः: by gods and demons
• सुरासुरैः: Karaṇa/Agent (करण/कर्तृ-हेतु; by)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (सुराश्च असुराश्च)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• वन्द्यः: worthy of worship
• वन्द्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन्द् (धातु)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/नीयत्-arthīya), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘to be worshipped’

• परमैश्वर्यवान्: possessing supreme lordship
• परमैश्वर्यवान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + ऐश्वर्य + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (परमं ऐश्वर्यं यस्य सः)

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Rāhu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse functions as a śaraṇāgati (refuge) moment where even a feared graha/asura acknowledges Śiva’s supreme aiśvarya.

Significance: Didactic: śaraṇāgati to Śiva is open to all beings (deva/asura alike); remembrance of Śiva as Devadeva and Maheśāna is portrayed as the turning-point from fear to protection.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: देवदेव महेशान पाहि मां शरणा गतम् । सुराऽसुरैस्सदा वन्द्यः परमैश्वर्यवान् प्रभुः

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse centers on śaraṇāgati—taking refuge in Śiva as the supreme Pati (Lord). Even a powerful being like Rāhu approaches Śiva as the ultimate protector, highlighting that grace (anugraha) transcends deva–asura divisions.

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

Rāhu addresses Śiva personally as Devadeva and Maheśāna—Saguna Śiva who hears prayers and grants protection. In practice, this same surrender is offered before the Śiva-liṅga through praise, prostration, and petition for refuge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple Shaiva practice implied is protective prayer with surrender: recite the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offer namaskāra to the liṅga, and mentally place oneself at Śiva’s feet (śaraṇāgati-bhāva) seeking pālana (divine protection).