Shloka 11

शुक्रोत्पत्तिः तथा महेश्वरदर्शनम् (Śukra’s Emergence and the Vision of Maheśvara)

Devanagari script

गजकृत्तिपरीधानं क्षुब्धं भुजगभूषणम् । दद्यालंबं च वेतालं घोरं शाकिनिपूजितम्

Transliteration

gajakṛttiparīdhānaṃ kṣubdhaṃ bhujagabhūṣaṇam | dadyālaṃbaṃ ca vetālaṃ ghoraṃ śākinipūjitam

Translation

He wore an elephant-hide as his garment, and on his agitated body serpents served as ornaments. He was accompanied by a terrifying Vetāla, hanging close by—one revered by the Śākinīs—revealing the awe-inspiring, fierce aspect of Śiva.

Word by Word

• गज-कृत्ति-परीधानम्: wearing an elephant-hide garment
• गज-कृत्ति-परीधानम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + परिधान (√धा धातु; उपसर्ग परि-; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गजस्य कृत्तिः—गजकृत्तिः; तया परिधानम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• क्षुब्धम्: agitated
• क्षुब्धम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुब्ध (√क्षुभ् धातु; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (द्वितीया एकवचन), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण

• भुजग-भूषणम्: adorned with serpents / serpent-ornamented
• भुजग-भूषणम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुजग (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भुजगैः भूषणम्/भुजगं भूषणम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• दद्यालम्बम्: should give (as) support
• दद्यालम्बम्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दद्य (√दा धातु; विधिलिङ्/लोट्-आदेशरूप-सम्भाव्य) + आलम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सन्धि-सम्भव; पाठे 'दद्यालम्बं' इति—दद्यात् (√दा, विधिलिङ् optative), प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन/तृतीयपुरुष एकवचन-सम्भाव्य + आलम्बम् (द्वितीया एकवचन). अत्र रूपं अनियमित/पाठभेदसम्भव; अर्थतः 'दद्यात् आलम्बम्' (should give support)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• वेतालम्: Vetāla (a ghoul)
• वेतालम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: कर्म (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (वेतालम्)

• शाकिनि-पूजितम्: worshipped by Śākinīs
• शाकिनि-पूजितम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाकिनि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजित (√पूज् धातु; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तृतीया/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध: शाकिनिभिः पूजितम्/शाकिनीनां पूजितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (द्वितीया एकवचन); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Gajasamhāramūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vetala
• Shakini

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s ghora (awe-inspiring) Saguna aspect: He masters fear, death, and wild forces (serpents, Vetāla), showing that the Lord of Pati (the Supreme) is untouched by what binds ordinary beings (pāśa), and that surrender to Him transforms terror into liberation-oriented reverence.

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

While the Liṅga points to Śiva beyond form (nirguṇa), this depiction supports Saguna worship: devotees contemplate His protective, fierce iconography to dissolve inner भय (fear), impurities, and ego—then return that purified mind to Liṅga-upāsanā as the highest symbol of the transcendent Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Rudra’s fearless presence while chanting the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence; the takeaway is steady japa with Rudra-dhyāna to overcome fear and agitation.