Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

हाहाशब्दं समुच्चार्य्यावाङ्मुखास्तद्गणास्ततः । पलायन्त रणाद्भीतास्त्राहित्राहीति वादिनः

Transliteration

hāhāśabdaṃ samuccāryyāvāṅmukhāstadgaṇāstataḥ | palāyanta raṇādbhītāstrāhitrāhīti vādinaḥ

Translation

Crying out “Hā! Hā!” those followers then turned their faces downward and, terrified of the battle, fled the field, repeatedly shouting, “Save us! Save us!”

Word by Word

• हाहा-शब्दम्: the ‘hāhā’ cry
• हाहा-शब्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हाहा (प्रातिपदिक/अनुकरण) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• समुच्चार्य: having cried out
• समुच्चार्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-उद्-चर् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समासान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having uttered aloud’

• अवाङ्-मुखाः: turning their faces away/down
• अवाङ्-मुखाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवाङ् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘with faces turned downward/away’

• तत्-गणाः: his troops
• तत्-गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb (क्रम)

• पलायन्त: fled
• पलायन्त: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पलाय् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• रणात्: from the battle
• रणात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन

• भीताः: frightened
• भीताः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/प्रेडिकेट)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भी (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate/qualifier of गणाः

• त्राहि: save (me)!
• त्राहि: Sambodhana/Prayoga (उद्धरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; used as quoted cry

• त्राहि: save (me)!
• त्राहि: Sambodhana/Prayoga (उद्धरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; repetition in cry

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; quotative particle (उद्धरणचिह्न)

• वादिनः: uttering/saying
• वादिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; agent noun ‘speakers’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

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

The verse depicts how fear collapses worldly confidence; in Shaiva Siddhanta, such distress highlights the pashu’s helplessness under pāśa and the need to seek refuge in Pati (Shiva) for protection and liberation.

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

Their cry for rescue mirrors the devotee’s approach to Saguna Shiva—seeking immediate shelter and grace. Linga-worship embodies this accessible refuge, where the Lord is invoked as protector who removes भय (fear) and grants steadiness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (surrender) supported by japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to transform भय into remembrance, anchoring the mind in Shiva as the saving refuge.