Shloka 17

Devanagari script

वज्रहस्तं च तं दृष्ट्वा शक्रं शीघ्रं सदाशिवः । चकार स्तम्भनं तस्य वज्रपातस्य शंकरः

Transliteration

vajrahastaṃ ca taṃ dṛṣṭvā śakraṃ śīghraṃ sadāśivaḥ | cakāra stambhanaṃ tasya vajrapātasya śaṃkaraḥ

Translation

Seeing Śakra (Indra) with the thunderbolt (vajra) raised in his hand, Sadāśiva acted at once—Śaṅkara arrested that very strike and rendered it powerless.

Word by Word

• vajra-hastam: (him) with thunderbolt in hand
• vajra-hastam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वज्रं हस्ते यस्य (having thunderbolt in hand)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

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

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having seen)

• śakram: Śakra (Indra)
• śakram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• sadāśivaḥ: Sadāśiva
• sadāśivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadā-śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम; कर्मधारय: सदा शिवः

• cakāra: did; made
• cakāra: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• stambhanam: paralysis; immobilization
• stambhanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stambhana (प्रातिपदिक; √stambh (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• vajra-pātasya: of the thunderbolt-strike
• vajra-pātasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra + pāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वज्रस्य पातः (fall/strike of the thunderbolt)

• śaṃkaraḥ: Śaṅkara
• śaṃkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम; (सदाशिवस्य पुनर्नाम)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Sadashiva
• Shankara
• Shakra (Indra)
• Vajra (thunderbolt)

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva as Pati—the supreme Lord whose will surpasses even the might of the devas; worldly power (vajra) becomes ineffective before divine sovereignty, urging surrender and trust in Śaṅkara.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva’s protective, grace-filled agency in the world—just as the Liṅga is worshiped as the living presence of Śiva, here the Lord tangibly intervenes to restrain harm and uphold dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is fear-dissolving japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with bhakti, contemplating Śiva as the inner protector who immobilizes destructive impulses and external threats.