Shloka 17

Gṛhapati’s Vow: Turning Grief into Mṛtyuñjaya–Mahākāla Sādhana (गृहपतेः प्रतिज्ञा—मृत्युंजय-महाकालजपः)

Devanagari script

जलंधरं महादर्पं हृतत्रैलोक्यसम्पदम् । रुचिरांगुष्ठरेखोत्थ चक्रेण निजघान यः

Transliteration

jalaṃdharaṃ mahādarpaṃ hṛtatrailokyasampadam | rucirāṃguṣṭharekhottha cakreṇa nijaghāna yaḥ

Translation

He struck down Jalandhara—swollen with great arrogance and who had robbed the three worlds of their prosperity—by the radiant discus that arose from the line-mark of His own thumb.

Word by Word

• jalaṃdharam: Jalandhara (demon)
• jalaṃdharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jalaṃdhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mahā-darpam: of great pride
• mahā-darpam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + darpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महान् दर्पः यस्य/महादर्पः)

• hṛta-trailokya-sampadam: who had seized the prosperity of the three worlds
• hṛta-trailokya-sampadam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛta (कृदन्त) + trailokya + sampad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (त्रैलोक्यस्य सम्पदः हृताः येन/यस्य); ‘hṛta’ = hṛ (धातु) + क्त

• rucira-aṅguṣṭha-rekhā-uttha: arisen from the beautiful thumb-line
• rucira-aṅguṣṭha-rekhā-uttha: Karaṇa-viśeṣaṇa (करणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rucira + aṅguṣṭha + rekhā + uttha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental) एकवचन-सम्बन्धे ‘cakreṇa’ इति विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (रुचिर-अङ्गुष्ठ-रेखायाः उत्थम् = arising from the beautiful thumb-line)

• cakreṇa: with the discus
• cakreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• nijaghāna: slew/struck down
• nijaghāna: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-han (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Śiva Purāṇa account to the sages, within the Śatarudra narrative context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse alludes to Śiva’s destruction of the asura Jalandhara, emblematic of the Lord’s removal of adharmic sovereignty that impoverishes the worlds.

Significance: Contemplation grants victory over darpa (pride) and protection of loka-dharma; supports the devotee’s inner ‘asura’ subjugation.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Jalandhara

FAQs

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

It teaches that darpa (arrogant ego) that oppresses the worlds is ultimately dissolved by Rudra’s grace and power; prosperity and order return when the soul yields to Pati (Śiva) rather than to self-importance.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva as the protector who intervenes in history to remove adharma; Linga-worship trains the devotee in humility and surrender so the inner ‘Jalandhara’—ego and domination—can be cut down.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate humility through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regular Śiva-pūjā; offer the fruits of action to Śiva to reduce darpa, the root obstacle to bhakti and liberation.