Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

दक्षयज्ञदर्शनम् — The Vision of Dakṣa’s Great Sacrifice

and the Onset of Vīrabhadra’s Terror

Devanagari script

मृगेन्द्राणां यथा नादं गजेंद्रा गहने वने । श्रुत्वा तथाविधं केचित्तत्यजुर्जीवितं भयात्

Transliteration

mṛgendrāṇāṃ yathā nādaṃ gajeṃdrā gahane vane | śrutvā tathāvidhaṃ kecittatyajurjīvitaṃ bhayāt

Translation

De même que les éléphants majestueux, dans la forêt profonde, tremblent en entendant le rugissement du roi des bêtes, ainsi, à l’écoute de ce son effroyable, certains abandonnèrent la vie par peur.

Word by Word

• मृगेन्द्राणाम्: of the lions
• मृगेन्द्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / Genitive
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'मृगाणाम् इन्द्राः' (lords of beasts/lions)

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Upamā (उपमा) / Comparative marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/just as)

• नादम्: roar/sound
• नादम्: Karma (कर्म) / Object (of 'श्रुत्वा')
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गजेन्द्राः: the lordly elephants
• गजेन्द्राः: Karta (कर्ता) / Subject
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'गजानाम् इन्द्राः' (lordly elephants)

• गहने: dense/thick
• गहने: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gahana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of 'वने')

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) / Location
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु) → śrutvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: अव्ययभावे कृदन्त (क्त्वा/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having heard)

• तथा-विधम्: such a (kind of)
• तथा-विधम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tathā (अव्यय) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—'तथा (एव) विधः' (of such a kind); विशेषण (of 'नादम्')

• केचित्: some (of them)
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता) / Subject
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim + cit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम (some)

• तत्यजुः: abandoned/gave up
• तत्यजुः: Kriya (क्रिया) / Main verb
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु) → तत्यजुः
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• जीवितम्: life
• जीवितम्: Karma (कर्म) / Object
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक; from √jīv)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भयात्: from fear/out of fear
• भयात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान) / Cause
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ (ablative of cause)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Fear-induced collapse (some beings die) as an extreme reaction to the dreadful sound.

FAQs

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

The verse uses a vivid simile—animals collapsing in fear—to show how overwhelming power can shatter ordinary ego-confidence; in Shaiva Siddhanta, such fear becomes spiritually meaningful when it turns the soul (paśu) away from worldly supports and toward refuge in Pati, Lord Shiva.

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

Though the Linga is not named here, the imagery of an irresistible, awe-producing presence aligns with Saguna Shiva’s manifest majesty in Purana narrative—prompting surrender (śaraṇāgati), which is central to Linga worship and devotional approach to Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is cultivating fearlessness through Shiva-refuge: steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while contemplating Shiva as the protector, transforming bhaya (fear) into bhakti (devotion) and inner stability.