Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24

वीरभद्रक्रोधशमनं देवस्तुतिश्च

Pacification of Vīrabhadra and the Gods’ Hymn

Devanagari script

श्रीकराय ददौ देवः स्वीयं पदमनुत्तमम् । सुदर्शनमरक्षस्त्वं नृपमंडलभीतितः

Transliteration

śrīkarāya dadau devaḥ svīyaṃ padamanuttamam | sudarśanamarakṣastvaṃ nṛpamaṃḍalabhītitaḥ

Translation

The Lord granted Śrīkara His own unsurpassed abode. And you—Sudarśana—protected (him/that realm) from the fear arising from the circles of kings.

Word by Word

• श्रीकराय: to Śrīkara
• श्रीकराय: सम्प्रदान (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन (Singular)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्वीयम्: his own
• स्वीयम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); पदम्-विशेषण

• पदम्: state/abode/position
• पदम्: कर्म (कर्म/Obj)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed
• अनुत्तमम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); पदम्-विशेषण

• सुदर्शनम्: Sudarśana (name)
• सुदर्शनम्: कर्म (कर्म/Obj)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुदर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• अरक्षः: protected
• अरक्षः: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); 2nd person pronoun

• नृपमण्डलभीतितः: from fear of the circle/realm of kings
• नृपमण्डलभीतितः: हेतु (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप-मण्डल-भीति (प्रातिपदिक; नृप + मण्डल + भीति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन (Singular); हेत्वर्थ (ablative of cause: ‘from/because of fear’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya discourse to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A didactic exemplum: Śiva grants His own ‘padam’ (abode/status) to Śrīkara—language that can suggest sāyujya/sāmīpya-type proximity as a fruit of devotion; Sudarśana’s protective role frames dharmic kingship under Śiva’s aegis.

Significance: Highlights Śiva as giver of the supreme goal (His own abode) and as protector of devotees amid political fear—encouraging reliance on Śiva rather than worldly power.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sudarshana
• Shrikara

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who grants the highest “pada” (state/abode) to the devoted, lifting the soul beyond fear rooted in worldly power and bondage.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Shiva as the gracious giver and protector: through devotional worship (including Linga-upasana), the devotee receives divine refuge and an elevated state that transcends worldly threats.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), combined with steady remembrance of Shiva as protector to dissolve fear and strengthen inner refuge.