Shloka 57

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । रक्षरक्ष महामाये शरणागतवत्सले । एताभ्यां घोररूपाभ्यां दैत्याभ्यां जगदम्बिके

Transliteration

brahmovāca | rakṣarakṣa mahāmāye śaraṇāgatavatsale | etābhyāṃ ghorarūpābhyāṃ daityābhyāṃ jagadambike

Translation

ブラフマーは言った。「お守りください、お守りください、マハーマーヤーよ。帰依する者を慈しみ護る御方よ。宇宙の母よ、この恐るべき姿の二体のダイティヤから、われらを救い給え。」

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• रक्ष: protect!
• रक्ष: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• रक्ष: protect! (again)
• रक्ष: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (पुनरुक्ति/emphatic repetition)

• महामाये: O Great Māyā
• महामाये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामाया (प्रातिपदिक: महा + माया)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शरणागतवत्सले: O affectionate to those who seek refuge
• शरणागतवत्सले: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरणागतवत्सला (प्रातिपदिक: शरणागत + वत्सला)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• एताभ्याम्: by these two
• एताभ्याम्: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगतः), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन (Dual)

• घोररूपाभ्याम्: by the two of terrible form
• घोररूपाभ्याम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोररूप (प्रातिपदिक: घोर + रूप)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन (Dual); विशेषण (qualifying) दैत्याभ्याम्

• दैत्याभ्याम्: by the two demons
• दैत्याभ्याम्: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन (Dual)

• जगदम्बिके: O Mother of the world
• जगदम्बिके: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगदम्बिका (प्रातिपदिक: जगत् + अम्बिका)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: रक्षरक्ष महामाये शरणागतवत्सले । एताभ्यां घोररूपाभ्यां दैत्याभ्यां जगदम्बिके

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Mahāmāyā
• Jagadambikā

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati—complete refuge in the Divine—where even Brahmā seeks the Mother’s protection, teaching that grace responds to sincere surrender.

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

Though addressed to the Goddess as Jagadambikā, the Uma Saṃhitā frames her as inseparable from Śiva’s śakti; devotion to Saguna forms (Śiva-Śakti) becomes a direct means to receive protection and guidance toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is protective japa with a refuge-attitude (śaraṇāgati), such as repeating “rakṣa rakṣa” in prayer alongside Shaiva mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) when facing fear or inner obstacles.