Shloka 43

दुन्दुभिनिर्ह्रादनिर्णयः / Dundubhinirhrāda’s Stratagem: Targeting the Brāhmaṇas

Devanagari script

देवा ऊचुः । जय शंकर देवेश प्रणतार्तिहर प्रभो । एतद्दुंदुभिनिर्ह्रादवधात्त्राता वयं सुराः

Transliteration

devā ūcuḥ | jaya śaṃkara deveśa praṇatārtihara prabho | etadduṃdubhinirhrādavadhāttrātā vayaṃ surāḥ

Translation

The Devas said: “Victory to you, Śaṅkara—Lord of the gods, O Master who removes the suffering of those who bow to you. From this terrifying, thunderous roar of the war-drum, protect us—we, the gods, seek your refuge.”

Word by Word

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• जय: victory! hail!
• जय: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जय (अव्यय/उद्गार)
• Form: उद्गार/सम्बोधनार्थक अव्यय (exclamation of victory)

• शंकर: O Śaṅkara
• शंकर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• देवेश: O Lord of the gods
• देवेश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: देवानाम् ईशः

• प्रणत-आर्ति-हर: O remover of the distress of the bowed (devotees)
• प्रणत-आर्ति-हर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणत (कृदन्त, नम्-धातोः क्त) + आर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: प्रणतानाम् आर्तिं हरति इति

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (निर्ह्रादम् इति)

• दुन्दुभि-निर्ह्राद-वधात्-त्राता: the savior from the destruction caused by the drum-roar
• दुन्दुभि-निर्ह्राद-वधात्-त्राता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुन्दुभि (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्ह्राद (प्रातिपदिक) + वध (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: दुन्दुभेः निर्ह्रादस्य वधात् त्राता (savior from the destruction caused by the drum-roar)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• सुराः: gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; वयम् इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन्

Speaker

The Devas (gods)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Śiva as deveśa and praṇatārtihara—protector from fear and distress; such epithets are commonly invoked at shrines for rakṣā and śānti.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: jaya śaṃkara deveśa praṇatārtihara prabho

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as “praṇatārtihara,” the one who removes the anguish of surrendered beings—teaching that refuge (śaraṇāgati) in Pati (Śiva) is the sure protection when the world’s forces become frightening.

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

The Devas address Śiva personally as Deveśa and Prabhu, reflecting Saguna devotion; in Linga-worship the same Lord is approached as the accessible, protecting presence who receives prayer and grants fearlessness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is to repeat a Śiva-jaya invocation (e.g., “jaya śaṃkara”) or the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a surrendering attitude, seeking protection and inner steadiness amid fear.