Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 45

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

Inquiry into Śiva’s Principle and the Parā–Aparā Paradox

Devanagari script

छेदितं तारकस्यापि शिरश्शक्रभिया सह । स्तुतिं चक्रुर्विशेषेण हरिधातृमुखाः सुराः

Transliteration

cheditaṃ tārakasyāpi śiraśśakrabhiyā saha | stutiṃ cakrurviśeṣeṇa haridhātṛmukhāḥ surāḥ

Translation

Quand la tête de Tāraka fut tranchée, la crainte d’Indra fut elle aussi coupée; alors les dieux—menés par Hari (Viṣṇu) et Dhātṛ (Brahmā)—offrirent une louange sublime, d’une manière toute particulière.

Word by Word

• cheditam: cut off
• cheditam: Karma (कर्म; that which is cut)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: chid (छिद् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative Singular (प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन); used predicatively

• tārakasya: of Tāraka
• tārakasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध; of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāraka (तारक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अपि अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (सम्भावना/समुच्चय/अपि—‘also/even’)

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (शिरस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śakra-bhiyā: with fear of Śakra (Indra)
• śakra-bhiyā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण; due to/with)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (शक्र) + bhī (भी प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘śakrasya bhīḥ’ = fear of Śakra

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक; accompaniment)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (सह अव्यय)
• Form: Prepositional indeclinable (सह—सहयोगार्थक; governs instrumental)

• stutim: praise/hymn
• stutim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stuti (स्तुति प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• cakruḥ: they made/did
• cakruḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• viśeṣeṇa: especially
• viśeṣeṇa: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣa (विशेष प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial instrumental used as indeclinable sense (तृतीया-प्रयोगेण क्रियाविशेषणम्)

• hari-dhātṛ-mukhāḥ: (the gods) headed by Hari and Dhātṛ
• hari-dhātṛ-mukhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (हरि) + dhātṛ (धातृ) + mukha (मुख)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); बहुव्रीहि: ‘hariś ca dhātā ca (ete) mukhāni yeṣām’ → ‘those whose leaders are Hari and Dhātṛ’ (i.e., headed by Viṣṇu and Brahmā)

• surāḥ: the gods
• surāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (सुर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: The cutting of fear along with the demon’s head exemplifies Śiva’s grace removing pāśa (bondage) symbolically; pilgrimage and stuti are portrayed as the devas’ immediate response to liberation from terror.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Tāraka
• Indra (Śakra)
• Vishnu (Hari)
• Brahma (Dhātṛ)
• Devas

FAQs

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

It portrays a Shaiva Siddhanta theme: when adharma is destroyed, fear (a form of bondage) subsides, and the devas respond with stuti—devotional recognition of Pati’s grace as the power that restores dharma.

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

The devas’ praise reflects Saguna worship—approaching the Lord through attributes and divine acts. In Purāṇic practice, such stuti naturally culminates in Linga-centered devotion, acknowledging Shiva as the accessible form through which protection and liberation are granted.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is stuti and japa: offer heartfelt praise and repeat the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a fear-dispelling discipline, supported by simple Shaiva observances like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and inward surrender.