Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

तम्ब्रह्माद्यैककर्तारम्मेघवाहनमच्युतम् । प्रयाहि पुत्र शरणं विश्वरक्षामणिं शिवम्

Transliteration

tambrahmādyaikakartārammeghavāhanamacyutam | prayāhi putra śaraṇaṃ viśvarakṣāmaṇiṃ śivam

Translation

Go, my son, and take refuge in Śiva—the one Lord, the source even of Brahmā and the other gods; the unwavering One who rides upon the cloud; the jewel of protection for the entire universe.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• brahma-ādi-eka-kartāram: the sole creator of Brahmā and the rest
• brahma-ādi-eka-kartāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + eka (प्रातिपदिक) + kartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—ब्रह्मादीनाम् एकः कर्ता (ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa)

• megha-vāhanam: the one whose vehicle is the cloud
• megha-vāhanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदिक) + vāhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—मेघः वाहनं यस्य (bahuvrīhi sense possible), but form used as epithet ‘मेघवाहन’ (tatpuruṣa/karmadhāraya usage)

• acyutam: Acyuta (the infallible one)
• acyutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेष्य-नाम (epithet)

• prayāhi: go / approach
• prayāhi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√yā (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

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

• śaraṇam: refuge
• śaraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘शरणं (गच्छ)’ इति गत्यर्थे कर्म

• viśva-rakṣā-maṇim: the jewel of protection for the universe
• viśva-rakṣā-maṇim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + rakṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—विश्वस्य रक्षायाः मणिः (ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa)

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: An exhortation to seek śaraṇāgati in Śiva as the sole source even of Brahmā and other gods—framing Śiva as viśva-rakṣā-maṇi (the universe’s protective jewel).

Significance: Cultivates śaraṇāgati (refuge) and trust in divine grace; supports fearlessness and steadiness in adversity.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: प्रयाहि पुत्र शरणं विश्वरक्षामणिं शिवम्

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) in Śiva as Pati—the supreme, unfailing protector and the ultimate cause beyond even Brahmā—who grants safety and spiritual upliftment.

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

By praising Śiva with attributes (protector of the universe, unfailing, supreme agent), the verse supports Saguna devotion; such surrender is commonly expressed through Linga-worship as a tangible focus for approaching the transcendent Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The key practice is devotional surrender—approaching Śiva with prayer and steady remembrance; this can be supported by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while mentally taking refuge in Him as viśva-rakṣā (protector of the world).