Shloka 3

देवपराजयः — शङ्करशरणागमनं स्कन्दकालीयुद्धं च | Devas’ Defeat, Refuge in Śaṅkara, and the Battle of Skanda and Kālī

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा पराजयं तेषां देवादीनां स शंकरः । सभयं वचनं श्रुत्वा कोपमुच्चैश्चकार ह

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā parājayaṃ teṣāṃ devādīnāṃ sa śaṃkaraḥ | sabhayaṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā kopamuccaiścakāra ha

Translation

Seeing the defeat of those gods and the others, Śaṅkara, on hearing their fear-laden words, became fiercely and intensely wrathful.

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having seen’

• पराजयम्: defeat
• पराजयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• देवादीनाम्: of the gods and others
• देवादीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (देवाः आदयः येषाम्)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• स-भयम्: fearful
• स-भयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + स (उपसर्ग/अव्ययार्थ ‘with’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; अव्ययीभावः (स + भयम् = ‘with fear’)

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having heard’

• कोपम्: anger
• कोपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• उच्चैः: loudly/strongly
• उच्चैः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उच्चैः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• चकार: made/assumed
• चकार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• ह: indeed
• ह: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/metrical filler)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: Wrathful, time-transcending Śiva who destroys adharma; the verse’s surge of kopa resonates with Mahākāla imagery (though not a direct sthala episode).

Significance: Mahākāla is sought for protection from fear, death, and hostile forces; symbolizes Śiva’s saṃhāra that restores dharma.

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva as the compassionate Lord (Pati) who does not ignore the distress of the devas; his “wrath” signifies the divine will to destroy adharma and restore cosmic order, protecting those who seek refuge.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—personally responsive to devotees’ fear and suffering. Linga-worship trains the mind to take refuge in Śiva as the living presence who safeguards dharma and grants grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

In fear or crisis, take śaraṇāgati (refuge) by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” ideally with rudrākṣa, and steady the mind with remembrance of Śiva as the protector who removes obstacles to dharma.