Shloka 18

शङ्खचूडदूतागमनम् — The Arrival of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Envoy

and Praise of Śiva

Devanagari script

पुरा त्वं पाषर्दो गोपो गोपेष्वेव च धार्मिकः । अधुना राधिकाशापाज्जातस्त्वं दानवेश्वरः

Transliteration

purā tvaṃ pāṣardo gopo gopeṣveva ca dhārmikaḥ | adhunā rādhikāśāpājjātastvaṃ dānaveśvaraḥ

Translation

Formerly you were a cowherd among the cowherds—righteous in conduct. But now, due to Rādhikā’s curse, you have been born as the lord of the Dānavas.

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly, in the past
• पुरा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीय-पुरुष (2nd person pronoun), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• पाषर्दः: a servant/attendant (pāṣarda)
• पाषर्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषर्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• गोपः: cowherd
• गोपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• गोपेषु: among the cowherds
• गोपेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• धार्मिकः: righteous, dutiful
• धार्मिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• राधिका-शापात्: from Rādhikā’s curse
• राधिका-शापात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधिका (प्रातिपदिक) + शाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa: ‘of Rādhikā’); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) शाप-शब्दः, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• जातः: (you have) become / been born
• जातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); ‘become/born’ (finite sense with implied ‘असि’)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीय-पुरुष, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• दानव-ईश्वरः: lord of the demons (Dānavas)
• दानव-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa: ‘lord of the Dānavas’); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Radhika
• Danavas

FAQs

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

It illustrates how bondage (pāśa) operates through karma and divine ordinance: even one with dhārmic conduct can undergo a drastic change of embodiment due to a curse, urging vigilance, humility, and reliance on Shiva’s grace to transcend worldly reversals.

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

The verse highlights the instability of worldly identity (cowherd vs. dānava-lord). In Shaiva practice, worship of Saguna Shiva through the Liṅga steadies the devotee in devotion and purity, helping one rise above changing roles and attain Shiva’s protective grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter karmic turbulence with daily Shiva-upāsanā: japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), Liṅga-abhiṣeka with a prayer for purification, and wearing/meditating with rudrākṣa to cultivate steadiness and restraint.