Shloka 42

शङ्खचूडदूतागमनम् — The Arrival of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Envoy

and Praise of Śiva

Devanagari script

देवप्रार्थनया तेन हिरण्यकशिपोः पुरा । प्रह्रादार्थं वधोऽकारि भक्तानां हितकारिणा

Transliteration

devaprārthanayā tena hiraṇyakaśipoḥ purā | prahrādārthaṃ vadho'kāri bhaktānāṃ hitakāriṇā

Translation

Formerly, at the prayer of the gods, that benefactor of devotees brought about the slaying of Hiraṇyakaśipu—so that Prahlāda might be protected and the welfare of the Lord’s devotees be secured.

Word by Word

• देवप्रार्थनया: by the gods' prayer
• देवप्रार्थनया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + प्रार्थना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘देवस्य प्रार्थना’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; by the prayer of the gods

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; by him/thereby

• हिरण्यकशिपोः: of Hiraṇyakaśipu
• हिरण्यकशिपोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्यकशिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; of Hiraṇyakaśipu

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• प्रह्रादार्थम्: for Prahlāda's sake
• प्रह्रादार्थम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्राद + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘प्रह्रादस्य अर्थः/हितम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; for Prahlāda's sake

• वधः: the slaying
• वधः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; killing/slaying (as the event)

• अकारि: was done
• अकारि: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘was done/was performed’

• भक्तानाम्: of devotees
• भक्तानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन; of the devotees

• हितकारिणा: by the benefactor (doer of good)
• हितकारिणा: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हितकारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘हितं करोति’ इति उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय; by the benefactor

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Hiranyakashipu
• Prahlada

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme Lord responds to sincere prayer and acts decisively to protect true devotees; the destruction of tyranny is presented as compassion toward bhaktas and restoration of dharma.

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

By highlighting the Lord as “hitakārin” (benefactor of devotees), it supports Saguna worship—approaching Shiva (or the Supreme as manifest) with devotion, trusting His protective grace that upholds dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is bhakti with prayer (prārthanā) and remembrance of the Lord’s protective nature—supported by japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and steady devotional discipline.