Shloka 8

देवस्तुतिवर्णनम् (Deva-stuti-varṇana) — “Description of the Gods’ Hymn/Praise”

Devanagari script

न सस्मारागतान्दैत्यान्निजतेजोनिपीडितान् । स्कंदमालिंग्य चाघ्राय मुगोदाति महेश्वरः

Transliteration

na sasmārāgatāndaityānnijatejonipīḍitān | skaṃdamāliṃgya cāghrāya mugodāti maheśvaraḥ

Translation

Overwhelmed by His own blazing divine splendor, Maheśvara no longer even noticed the approaching Daityas. Embracing Skanda and smelling his head with affection, the Great Lord became silent—absorbed in inner joy.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• सस्मार: remembered
• सस्मार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आगतान्: arrived
• आगतान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘आगत’ = come/arrived (qualifying दैत्यान्)

• दैत्यान्: the demons (Daityas)
• दैत्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन

• निजतेजः: by (his) own splendor
• निजतेजः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज-तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; समासः—निजं तेजः (कर्मधारय)

• निपीडितान्: oppressed
• निपीडितान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-पीड् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘निपीडित’ = oppressed/pressed down (qualifying दैत्यान्)

• स्कन्दम्: Skanda
• स्कन्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आलिङ्ग्य: having embraced
• आलिङ्ग्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-लिङ्ग् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/त्वान्त); ‘having embraced’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आघ्राय: having smelled
• आघ्राय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-घ्रा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund); ‘having smelled/sniffed’

• मुगः: speechless, stunned
• मुगः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of महेश्वरः)

• उदाति: utters/cries out
• उदाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; पाठभेदसम्भवः—‘उदाति’ (he utters/cries out)

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—महान् ईश्वरः (कर्मधारय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Maheshvara)
• Skanda (Kartikeya)
• Daityas

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva’s supremacy: even amid conflict, his awareness rests in sovereign inner fullness (tejas) and compassionate love, indicating the Siddhānta view of Pati (Lord) as untouched by worldly agitation while still blessing devotees.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—personal, affectionate, and present in līlā. Linga worship trains the mind to see that the same Lord who is formless in essence also manifests lovingly for the devotee’s upliftment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to cultivate inner stillness like Śiva’s “silence,” and pair it with bhakti—seeing the Lord as both protector and compassionate father.