Shloka 35

जालन्धरस्य दूतप्रेषणम् — Jalandhara Sends an Envoy to Kailāsa

The Provocation of Śiva

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणं मां महादेव खादितुं समुपागतः । पुरुषोयं तवेशान सेवकोतिभयंकरः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇaṃ māṃ mahādeva khādituṃ samupāgataḥ | puruṣoyaṃ taveśāna sevakotibhayaṃkaraḥ

Translation

O Mahādeva, a brāhmaṇa has come here intending to devour me. O Īśāna, this man is Your attendant—exceedingly terrifying in form and deed.

Word by Word

• brāhmaṇam: a brāhmaṇa
• brāhmaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• mahādeva: O Mahādeva
• mahādeva: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahādeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—महान् + देवः (कर्मधारय)

• khāditum: to eat/devour
• khāditum: Prayojana/Artha (प्रयोजन/अर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: khād (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), क्रियार्थक-अव्यय; धातुः—खाद् (भक्षणे)

• samupāgataḥ: has approached/come near
• samupāgataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-upa-√gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (Past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; धातुः—गम् (गतौ) उपसर्गौ—सम्, उप

• puruṣaḥ: a man/person
• puruṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• ayam: this
• ayam: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• īśāna: O Lord (Īśāna)
• īśāna: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• sevakaḥ: servant
• sevakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sevaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• ati-bhayaṃkaraḥ: extremely terrifying
• ati-bhayaṃkaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + bhayaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—अति + भयङ्कर (तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समास)

Speaker

A frightened petitioner addressing Lord Shiva (Mahadeva/Īśāna) within the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) in Mahādeva: when fear and danger arise, the devotee turns to Īśāna as the supreme protector, trusting that Shiva’s grace governs even terrifying forces.

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

Calling Shiva “Mahādeva” and “Īśāna” reflects Saguna upāsanā—approaching the Lord as a personal, responsive deity. In Linga-worship, the same refuge is sought: the Linga represents Shiva’s ever-present lordship that protects and steadies the devotee amid संकट (danger).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is mantra-based refuge: repeat the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with focused surrender, and (as customary Shaiva practice) accompany it with Tripuṇḍra bhasma-dhāraṇa or Rudrākṣa-japa for inner fearlessness.