Shloka 13

Devanagari script

ततस्सतामभयदः शंकरो भक्तवत्सलः । दध्रे शिरसि चन्द्रं स विभुश्शरणमागतम्

Transliteration

tatassatāmabhayadaḥ śaṃkaro bhaktavatsalaḥ | dadhre śirasi candraṃ sa vibhuśśaraṇamāgatam

Translation

Then Śaṅkara—giver of fearlessness to the righteous and ever tender to His devotees—placed upon His head the Moon that had come to Him for refuge; that all-pervading Lord granted it protection and honor.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: then/from there)

• सताम्: of the good (people)
• सताम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सत्-शब्दः), षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन

• अभयदः: giver of fearlessness
• अभयदः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभय-द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (अभयं ददाति इति)

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• भक्तवत्सलः: affectionate to devotees
• भक्तवत्सलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त-वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भक्तानां वत्सलः)

• दध्रे: bore, held
• दध्रे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• शिरसि: on (his) head
• शिरसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• चन्द्रम्: the moon
• चन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विभुः: the Lord, the mighty one
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• शरणम्: as refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे (goal)

• आगतम्: who had come (seeking refuge)
• आगतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तं/राहुम्—शरणम् आगतम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse supplies a mythic rationale for Śiva’s candra-śekhara iconography: the Moon, seeking refuge, is honored by being borne on Śiva’s head—transforming fear into auspiciousness.

Significance: Darśana of Candraśekhara Śiva is framed as a remedy for fear, instability, and ‘graha-doṣa’; devotion yields abhayam and steadiness of mind.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Integration of a celestial luminary into Śiva’s iconography; cosmic order restored through divine protection.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Chandra

FAQs

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

It teaches śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) and Shiva’s role as Pati—the compassionate Lord who removes fear for the virtuous and protects those who surrender, showing that divine grace, not mere power, restores order and peace.

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

By depicting Shiva as Chandrashekhara (the One who bears the Moon), it supports Saguna worship—devotion to Shiva with form and attributes—while pointing to His Vibhu nature (all-pervading), which the Linga also signifies as the limitless reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice śaraṇāgati with japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” meditating on Shiva as Abhayada (giver of fearlessness) and Chandrashekhara, cultivating trust and inner steadiness during fear or karmic distress.