Shloka 37

जालन्धरस्य दूतप्रेषणम् — Jalandhara Sends an Envoy to Kailāsa

The Provocation of Śiva

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । महादेवो वचः श्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणस्य तदा मुने । अब्रवीत्स्वगणं तं वै दीनानाथप्रियः प्रभुः

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | mahādevo vacaḥ śrutvā brāhmaṇasya tadā mune | abravītsvagaṇaṃ taṃ vai dīnānāthapriyaḥ prabhuḥ

Translation

Sanatkumāra said: O sage, having heard the words of that brāhmaṇa, Mahādeva—the Lord beloved of the helpless and the refuge of the distressed—spoke to His own attendant gaṇas.

Word by Word

• sanat-kumāraḥ: Sanatkumāra
• sanat-kumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanat (प्रातिपदिक) + kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—सनत् + कुमार (कर्मधारय)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; धातुः—वच् (वक्तव्ये)

• mahādevaḥ: Mahādeva
• mahādevaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahādeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—महान् + देवः (कर्मधारय)

• vacaḥ: words/speech
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातुः—श्रु (श्रवणे)

• brāhmaṇasya: of the brāhmaṇa
• brāhmaṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; धातुः—ब्रू (वचने)

• sva-gaṇam: his own attendant group
• sva-gaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—स्वस्य गणः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• tam: to him/that (group)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• dīna-anātha-priyaḥ: dear to the poor and helpless
• dīna-anātha-priyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīna (प्रातिपदिक) + anātha (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—दीनानाम् अनाथानां च प्रियः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; दीन+अनाथ द्वन्द्वार्थ-समुच्चय)

• prabhuḥ: the Lord
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as the compassionate Pati (Lord) who responds to the cry of the distressed; in Shaiva devotion, this affirms śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) as a direct spiritual path supported by the Lord’s grace.

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

By portraying Mahādeva as an active, responsive Lord who commands His gaṇas, the verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—worshipped in accessible forms such as the Śiva-liṅga—who engages with devotees and protects them.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to approach Śiva with humble refuge and japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—seeking His protection and guidance, as the Lord is described as the beloved refuge of the helpless.