Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

ततो दृष्ट्वा मदाद्दुःखं प्रजानां दीनचेतसाम् । त्रिदशाश्शरणं याता योगमायां महेश्वरीम्

Transliteration

tato dṛṣṭvā madādduḥkhaṃ prajānāṃ dīnacetasām | tridaśāśśaraṇaṃ yātā yogamāyāṃ maheśvarīm

Translation

Then, seeing the sorrow of the people—whose hearts were cast down—caused by intoxication (of pride and excess), the gods sought refuge in Yogamāyā, the great Goddess (Maheśvarī).

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): तस्मात्/ततः = 'then/thereupon'

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having seen'

• मदात्: from pride / due to intoxication (of pride)
• मदात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रजानाम्: of the creatures / subjects
• प्रजानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• दीन-चेतसाम्: of the downcast-minded
• दीन-चेतसाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (प्रजानाम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः; (दीनं चेतः येषाम्) इति बहुवचन-षष्ठी; पुं/नपुंसक-समासान्त-प्रयोगः, षष्ठी बहुवचन

• त्रिदशाः: the gods
• त्रिदशाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म) (गत्यर्थे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• याताः: went / having gone
• याताः: Karta (कर्ता) (त्रिदशाः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) / यात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle used as finite sense); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• योग-मायाम्: Yogamāyā
• योग-मायाम्: Karma (कर्म) (शरणं याता: whom they approached)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'योगस्य माया'

• महेश्वरीम्: the Great Goddess
• महेश्वरीम्: Karma (कर्म) (apposition to योगमायाम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana to the sages, Uma Samhita context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames a crisis of cosmic order where the Devas, unable to remedy the effects of mada (pride/intoxication) afflicting beings, take refuge in Yogamāyā (Śiva’s Śakti) who both veils and reveals dharma.

Significance: Teaches śaraṇāgati (refuge) in Śiva-Śakti when māyā-born delusion overwhelms; a paradigmatic move from self-reliance to grace-oriented dependence.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: A moral-cosmic disturbance: mada (pride/intoxication) causing duḥkha and social-spiritual collapse, prompting divine recourse to Yogamāyā.

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvarī
• Yogamāyā
• Tridaśa (Devas)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that suffering born of mada (pride, intoxication of power, or delusive excess) is resolved through śaraṇāgati—taking refuge in the Divine Śakti (Maheśvarī), whose Yogamāyā both veils and reveals the path to grace.

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

Seeking refuge in Maheśvarī implies approaching Śiva together with His Śakti; in Śaiva practice this is reflected in saguna worship—reverence to the Liṅga with devotion and humility—so that ego-born delusion is purified and Śiva’s grace becomes accessible.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is humility and refuge: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and sincere prayer for removal of pride and delusion, cultivating surrender to Śiva-Śakti.