Shloka 23

पिप्पलादावतारकथनम्

Account of the Pippalāda Avatāra

Devanagari script

शक्र उवाच । त्वष्ट्रा विप्रकृताः सर्वे वयन्देवास्तथर्षयः । शरण्यं त्वां महाशैवं दातारं शरणं गताः

Transliteration

śakra uvāca | tvaṣṭrā viprakṛtāḥ sarve vayandevāstatharṣayaḥ | śaraṇyaṃ tvāṃ mahāśaivaṃ dātāraṃ śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ

Translation

Śakra (Indra) said: “All of us—both the Devas and the Ṛṣis—have been wronged by Tvaṣṭṛ. Therefore we have come for refuge to You, O Mahāśiva, the Great Auspicious One, the true Protector and the supreme Giver; for You alone are the Refuge of all.”

Word by Word

• शक्रः: Indra (Śakra)
• शक्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्वष्ट्रा: by Tvaṣṭṛ
• त्वष्ट्रा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• विप्रकृताः: wronged/afflicted by a brahmin
• विप्रकृताः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-सम्बन्ध/Predicative to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विप्र + कृ (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘कृत’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘विप्रेण कृताः’ (done/affected by a brahmin)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—समुच्चय/तुल्यतासूचक (also/likewise)

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शरण्यम्: worthy of refuge
• शरण्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘त्वाम्’)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महाशैवम्: the great Śaiva (devotee of Śiva)
• महाशैवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘त्वाम्’)

• दातारम्: giver
• दातारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘दाता’ (giver)

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘शरणं गताḥ’ इत्यत्र गत्यर्थकर्म

• गताः: have gone (have taken)
• गताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP) ‘गत’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘have gone/approached’

Speaker

Indra (Śakra)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; the verse functions as a śaraṇāgati (refuge) declaration to Mahāśiva amid a deva crisis caused by Tvaṣṭṛ.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śaraṇyaṃ tvāṃ mahāśaivaṃ dātāraṃ śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Shakra)
• Tvaṣṭṛ
• Shiva (Mahāśiva)
• Devas
• Rishis

FAQs

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

It presents śaraṇāgati—humble surrender—as the decisive spiritual act: even Devas and Ṛṣis, when afflicted, recognize Mahāśiva as the ultimate refuge and benefactor, pointing to Shiva as Pati (Lord) who alone can remove bondage and grant grace.

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

The verse approaches Shiva as Mahāśiva—an accessible, grace-bestowing Saguna Lord who protects devotees. In Shiva Purana practice, this same refuge is sought through Linga worship, where the devotee petitions Shiva for protection, purification, and right order (dharma).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The key practice is śaraṇāgati expressed through prayer to Shiva—often supported by japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and simple Linga-upāsanā, asking Mahāśiva for protection and auspiciousness.