Shloka 23

तुलसी-शङ्खचूडोपाख्यानम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and the Tulasī Episode

Prelude to Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Fall

Devanagari script

तदाहं समरं तत्राकार्षं देवैर्बलोत्कटैः । पराजिताश्च ते देवाश्शंकरं शरणं ययुः

Transliteration

tadāhaṃ samaraṃ tatrākārṣaṃ devairbalotkaṭaiḥ | parājitāśca te devāśśaṃkaraṃ śaraṇaṃ yayuḥ

Translation

Then I engaged there in battle with the gods, formidable in strength. But those gods were defeated, and they went to Śaṅkara (Śiva) for refuge.

Word by Word

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुष, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• samaram: battle
• samaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• akārṣam: I waged / I carried out
• akārṣam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• devaiḥ: with the gods
• devaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• balotkaṭaiḥ: (who were) exceedingly strong
• balotkaṭaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bala + utkaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (बलस्य उत्कटाः = very strong in strength), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying devaiḥ)

• parājitāḥ: defeated
• parājitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parā + ji (धातु) → parājita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying devāḥ)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• te: those
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (those devāḥ)

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• śaṅkaram: Śaṅkara
• śaṅkaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• śaraṇam: as refuge
• śaraṇam: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे द्वितीया (accusative of goal)

• yayuḥ: went
• yayuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

Speaker

The demon/anti-divine antagonist narrating in first person within Suta Goswami’s narration (Rudrasaṃhitā, Yuddhakhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): even the devas, when overpowered, turn to Śaṅkara as the supreme Pati—protector and final sanctuary beyond worldly strength.

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

The devas approaching Śaṅkara for shelter reflects Saguna Shiva’s accessible grace—worship of Shiva (including the Linga as His manifest sign) is presented as the reliable means to receive protection and restoration of dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is refuge through devotion: mentally offer surrender to Śiva with the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and support it with Shaiva markers like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of reliance on Śaṅkara.