Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

न शताक्षीसमा काचिद्दयालुर्भुवि देवता । दृष्ट्वाऽरुदत्प्रजास्तप्ता या नवाहं महेश्वरी

Transliteration

na śatākṣīsamā kāciddayālurbhuvi devatā | dṛṣṭvā'rudatprajāstaptā yā navāhaṃ maheśvarī

Translation

On earth there is no deity as compassionate as Śatākṣī. Seeing beings afflicted and scorched by suffering, that great Goddess wept—she who is none other than I, Maheśvarī.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-nipāta (प्रतिषेध-निपात/negative particle)

• śatākṣī-samā: equal to Śatākṣī
• śatākṣī-samā: Viśeṣaṇa (qualifier of devatā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śatākṣī + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'equal to Śatākṣī' (upamā)

• kācid: any (one)
• kācid: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; indefinite pronoun (काचित्)

• dayāluḥ: compassionate
• dayāluḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dayālu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā, Ekavacana; adjective used predicatively/appositionally with devatā (gender shift as honorific/common in usage)

• bhuvi: on earth
• bhuvi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• devatā: deity
• devatā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), 'having seen'

• arudat: she cried
• arudat: Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rud (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्; imperfect/past), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष/3rd person), Ekavacana

• prajāḥ: the people/creatures
• prajāḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (द्वितीया/2nd case), Bahuvacana

• taptā: afflicted/tormented
• taptā: Karta-sāmānādhikaraṇya (predicative to subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tap (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle, Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with yā (Śatākṣī)

• yā: she who
• yā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun

• navāham: for nine days
• navāham: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण; duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nava + ahan (प्रातिपदिक; नव + अहन्)
• Form: Napumsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; dvigu-tatpuruṣa sense 'nine days' used adverbially (accusative of duration)

• maheśvarī: Mahēśvarī
• maheśvarī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśvarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; epithet

Speaker

Goddess Parvati (Umā/Maheśvarī), speaking in first person

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Śatākṣī
• Maheśvarī (Umā/Parvatī)

FAQs

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

It highlights karuṇā (divine compassion) as a defining mark of the Goddess: moved by the suffering of beings, Śakti responds with grace, indicating that liberation is ultimately supported by anugraha (divine favor) alongside effort.

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

In Shaiva understanding, Saguna worship (such as Śiva-liṅga pūjā) is inseparable from Śiva’s Śakti; the verse underscores that the compassionate power that answers prayers and relieves distress is Maheśvarī, ever united with Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is compassionate devotion: perform Śiva-liṅga worship with the Panchākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and pray for the relief of all beings, aligning one’s heart with the Goddess’s karuṇā.