Shloka 43

द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारकथनम्

Account of the Twelve Jyotirliṅga Manifestations

Devanagari script

हत्वा दारुकनामानं राक्षसन्धर्मघातकम् । स्वभक्तं वैश्यनाथं च प्रारक्षत्सुप्रियाभिधम्

Transliteration

hatvā dārukanāmānaṃ rākṣasandharmaghātakam | svabhaktaṃ vaiśyanāthaṃ ca prārakṣatsupriyābhidham

Translation

Having slain the demon named Dāruka, the destroyer of dharma, Lord Śiva protected His own devotee Vaiśyanātha, renowned by the name Supriyā.

Word by Word

• हत्वा: having slain
• हत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त्वा (Absolutive/Gerund); पूर्वकाले कृत्य (having done)

• दारुक-नामानम्: named Dāruka
• दारुक-नामानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुक + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (दारुक इति नाम यस्य)

• राक्षसम्: the demon
• राक्षसम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धर्म-घातकम्: destroyer of dharma
• धर्म-घातकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + घातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य घातकः)

• स्व-भक्तम्: his own devotee
• स्व-भक्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + भक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्त—भज् धातोः क्त (भक्त); समासः—कर्मधारय (स्वः भक्तः)

• वैश्यनाथम्: Vaiśyanātha
• वैश्यनाथम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्यनाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (वैश्यानां नाथः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• प्रारक्षत्: protected
• प्रारक्षत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• सुप्रिया-अभिधम्: having the name Supriyā
• सुप्रिया-अभिधम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्रिया + अभिध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सुप्रिया इति अभिधा यस्य)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Nāgeśvara

Sthala Purana: Dāruka, a rākṣasa who oppressed dharma, was slain by Śiva; Śiva then protected His devotee Vaiśyanātha (also called Supriyā), establishing the site’s fame as a protective, sin-destroying Jyotirliṅga-kṣetra.

Significance: Protection of devotees (rakṣaṇa) and removal of major sins through Śiva’s direct intervention and remembrance of His victory over adharma.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daruka
• Supriya
• Vaishyanatha

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva as Pati—the supreme protector—who destroys adharma (Daruka) and safeguards the surrendered bhakta (Supriyā/Vaiśyanātha), affirming that devotion aligned with dharma draws divine grace.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva’s compassionate, active lordship: He intervenes in history to protect devotees. In Linga worship, this is remembered as the accessible form of Śiva who responds to bhakti and restores dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Take refuge in Śiva through steady japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with bhakti; accompany it with simple Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and daily Linga-pūjā as expressions of surrender and dharma.