Shloka 13

द्विजेश्वरावतारः

The Manifestation of Shiva as Dvijeśvara

Devanagari script

द्विजदम्पती ऊचतुः । पाहि पाहि महाराज नावुभौ धर्मवित्तम । एष आयाति शार्दूलो जग्धुमावां महाप्रभो

Transliteration

dvijadampatī ūcatuḥ | pāhi pāhi mahārāja nāvubhau dharmavittama | eṣa āyāti śārdūlo jagdhumāvāṃ mahāprabho

Translation

The brahmin couple said: “Protect us, protect us, O great king—O knower of dharma! A tiger is coming to devour us, O mighty lord.”

Word by Word

• dvija-dampatī: the brahmin couple
• dvija-dampatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + dampatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (dvijānāṃ dampatī)

• ūcatuḥ: said
• ūcatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन)

• pāhi: protect!
• pāhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• pāhi: protect!
• pāhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahā-rāja: O great king
• mahā-rāja: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः

• naḥ: of us two / our
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन) (enclitic form)

• ubhau: both (of us)
• ubhau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• dharma-vit-tama: O best knower of dharma
• dharma-vit-tama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (धातु) → vit (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + tama (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (dharmaṃ vetti iti dharmavit) + तमप् (superlative)

• eṣaḥ: this (one)
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• āyāti: comes
• āyāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (धातु) + ā (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• śārdūlaḥ: tiger
• śārdūlaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śārdūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• jagdhum: to devour
• jagdhum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/अर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhakṣ (धातु) → jagdhum (तुमुन्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुनन्त), purpose sense (प्रयोजन)

• āvām: us two
• āvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• mahā-prabho: O great lord
• mahā-prabho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः

Speaker

The Brahmin couple (dvija-dampatī), addressing the king

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: पाहि पाहि महाराज नावुभौ धर्मवित्तम । एष आयाति शार्दूलो जग्धुमावां महाप्रभो

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• a king (mahārāja)
• Brahmin couple
• tiger (śārdūla)

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati (surrender): the helpless appeal for protection reflects the Shaiva view that safety and liberation ultimately arise from righteous refuge and grace (anugraha), not mere personal strength.

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

Though the couple addresses a king, the Purana’s Shaiva frame treats true protection as the function of Saguna Shiva—the compassionate Lord who responds when devotees cry out in fear and faith, often through a righteous agent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

In crisis, cultivate remembrance of Shiva with simple japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as an act of surrender, aligning the mind with the Lord’s protective grace.