Shloka 22

Durgama’s Seizure of the Vedas and the Gods’ Refuge in Yogamāyā (दुर्गमकृतवेदनाशः—योगमायाशरणगमनम्)

Devanagari script

समेत्योचुस्तदा देवा भवत्या तोषिता जनाः । वेदान्देहि कृपां कृत्वा दुर्गमेण समाहृताम्

Transliteration

sametyocustadā devā bhavatyā toṣitā janāḥ | vedāndehi kṛpāṃ kṛtvā durgameṇa samāhṛtām

Translation

Then the gods, assembling together, spoke: “O Goddess, we are pleased by you. Out of compassion, please grant us the Vedas that were gathered away by Durgama.”

Word by Word

• समेत्य: having assembled
• समेत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), उपसर्ग: सम्; ‘having come together’

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• भवत्या: by you (lady)
• भवत्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तोषिताः: pleased/satisfied
• तोषिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तोषित (कृदन्त; √तुष् धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying देवाः/जनाः)

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वेदान्: the Vedas
• वेदान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• देहि: give
• देहि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

• कृपाम्: mercy
• कृपाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• दुर्गमेण: by difficult means / with difficulty
• दुर्गमेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; साधन/उपायवाचक

• समाहृताम्: brought/collected
• समाहृताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (वेदान्—‘brought/collected’)

Speaker

The Devas (gods), addressing Goddess (Umā/Parvatī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; the devas petition Devī to return the Vedas seized/withheld by the asura Durgama—restoring śruti as the backbone of dharma.

Significance: Positions Veda-restoration as a supreme boon; encourages śāstra-protection, recitation, and teaching as devotional service.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Dharma-crisis: Vedas removed by an asuric force (concealment of knowledge), prompting divine petition.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Parvati (Uma)
• Durgama
• Vedas

FAQs

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

It portrays divine grace as the restorer of dharma: when sacred knowledge is obstructed by adharma (Durgama), the Devas seek the compassionate power of the Goddess, aligned with Shiva, to re-establish the Vedas for the welfare of the worlds.

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

The verse highlights Saguna divinity working through compassionate intervention—Uma (Shiva’s Shakti) protects Vedic order, which undergirds Linga-worship, mantra, and ritual; devotion to Shiva-with-Shakti safeguards both spiritual practice and right knowledge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is prayerful surrender (śaraṇāgati) to Shiva and Uma for the protection of one’s spiritual study—supported by japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and reverent recitation/listening to Vedic or Shaiva hymns.