Shloka 6

Mahiṣāsura’s Conquest of Svarga and the Devas’ Appeal to Śiva and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

भ्रमामो मर्त्यलोकेऽस्मिन्न लभेमहि शं क्वचित् । कां कां न दुर्दशां नीता देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः

Transliteration

bhramāmo martyaloke'sminna labhemahi śaṃ kvacit | kāṃ kāṃ na durdaśāṃ nītā devā indrapurogamāḥ

Translation

We wander in this mortal world and find no peace anywhere. Into what miseries have the gods—led by Indra—been driven!

Word by Word

• भ्रमामः: we wander
• भ्रमामः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मर्त्य-लोके: in the mortal world
• मर्त्य-लोके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (mortals’ world); लोक-शब्दः पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘लोके’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• लभेमहि: we may obtain
• लभेमहि: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• शम्: welfare, peace
• शम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम् (प्रातिपदिक/नपुंसक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• क्वचित्: anywhere, ever
• क्वचित्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘anywhere/ever’)

• काम्: what (kind of)
• काम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition) बलार्थम्

• काम्: what (kind of)
• काम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय; अत्र ‘कां कां न’ = ‘which all not?’ (rhetorical)

• दुर्-दशाम्: misfortune, bad state
• दुर्-दशाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः (bad condition); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नीताः: have been led (into)
• नीताः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → नीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle used predicatively); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘देवाः ... नीताः’

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

• इन्द्र-पुरोगमाः: with Indra as their leader
• इन्द्र-पुरोगमाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरोगम (प्रातिपदिक: पुरस् + गम्)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिः (those whose leader in front is Indra); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; देवाः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

The Devas (led by Indra)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights that even exalted beings can fall into distress when separated from the Lord’s grace; true śaṃ (peace) is not secured by wandering in worldly realms but by turning to Pati (Shiva), the liberator from pāśa (bondage).

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

The verse sets the emotional and theological ground for seeking refuge in Shiva as the accessible Saguna Lord—worshiped through the Linga—because worldly movement and status (even Indra’s) cannot guarantee auspiciousness without Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to seek śaṃ through Shiva-upāsanā: japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady devotion; if performing ritual, do it with purity and surrender, as the antidote to durdaśā.