Shloka 14

द्विजेश्वरावतारः

The Manifestation of Shiva as Dvijeśvara

Devanagari script

एष हिंस्रः कालसमः सर्वप्राणिभयङ्करः । यावन्न खादति प्राप्य तावन्नौ रक्ष धर्मवित्

Transliteration

eṣa hiṃsraḥ kālasamaḥ sarvaprāṇibhayaṅkaraḥ | yāvanna khādati prāpya tāvannau rakṣa dharmavit

Translation

“He is violent, like Kāla—Time itself—terrifying to all living beings. Before he seizes us and devours us, protect us, O knower of dharma.”

Word by Word

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

• hiṃsraḥ: violent
• hiṃsraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hiṃsra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषणम् (qualifying eṣaḥ)

• kāla-samaḥ: equal to Death/Time
• kāla-samaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); उपमान-तत्पुरुषः (kālasya samaḥ)

• sarva-prāṇi-bhayaṅkaraḥ: terrifying to all creatures
• sarva-prāṇi-bhayaṅkaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + prāṇin (प्रातिपदिक) + bhayaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (sarveṣāṃ prāṇināṃ bhayaṅkaraḥ)

• yāvat: as long as
• yāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Correlative indeclinable (यावत्…तावत्) meaning 'as long as'

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• khādati: devours/eats
• khādati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: khād (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• prāpya: having reached/obtained
• prāpya: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु) + pra (उपसर्ग) → prāpya (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), 'having obtained/reaching'

• tāvat: until then
• tāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Correlative indeclinable (यावत्…तावत्) meaning 'until then/so long'

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

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

• dharma-vit: O knower of dharma
• dharma-vit: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (धातु) → vit (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays Kala (Time/Death) as an inevitable devourer and highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta impulse of seeking refuge in dharma and the Lord’s protection before fear overwhelms the bound soul (paśu).

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

The verse reflects the devotional posture of surrender: turning to Saguna Shiva—often approached through the Linga—as the compassionate protector who grants fearlessness (abhaya) against the terror of Kala.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) through daily japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with simple Linga worship (water offering) seeking Shiva’s abhaya and steadiness amid fear.