Shloka 22

Mahiṣāsura’s Conquest of Svarga and the Devas’ Appeal to Śiva and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

शक्तिं हुताशनोऽयच्छन्मारुतश्चापमेव च । बाणपूर्णेषुधी चैव वज्रघण्टे शचीपतिः

Transliteration

śaktiṃ hutāśano'yacchanmārutaścāpameva ca | bāṇapūrṇeṣudhī caiva vajraghaṇṭe śacīpatiḥ

Translation

ಅಗ್ನಿಯು ಶಕ್ತಿ (ಭಾಲ)ಯನ್ನು ನೀಡಿದನು, ವಾಯುವು ಧನುಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಪ್ರಸಾದಿಸಿದನು. ಶಚೀಪತಿ ಇಂದ್ರನು ಬಾಣಗಳಿಂದ ತುಂಬಿದ ತೂಣೀರಿನೊಂದಿಗೆ ವಜ್ರ ಮತ್ತು ಗಂಟೆಯನ್ನೂ ಸಮರ್ಪಿಸಿದನು.

Word by Word

• शक्तिम्: spear/energy-weapon (śakti)
• शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हुताशनः: Hutāśana (Agni)
• हुताशनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hutāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अयच्छत्: gave
• अयच्छत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; रूपम्: अयच्छत् (gave/granted)

• मारुतः: Māruta (Wind-god)
• मारुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māruta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चापम्: bow
• चापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• बाणपूर्णेषुधी: a quiver full of arrows
• बाणपूर्णेषुधी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa-pūrṇa-iṣudhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषसमासः: बाणैः पूर्णा इषुधी (quiver full of arrows)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक-निपात

• वज्रघण्टे: the thunderbolt and the bell
• वज्रघण्टे: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra-ghaṇṭā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (dual); तत्पुरुषः (वज्रस्य घण्टा) / समाहारद्वन्द्व-भावार्थे 'वज्रं घण्टा च' as two items (dual)

• शचीपतिः: Śacī’s lord (Indra)
• शचीपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śacī-pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शच्याः पतिः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Vayu
• Indra
• Shachi (Saci)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that even the devas rely on bestowed instruments of power; in Shaiva understanding, true victory and protection ultimately rest in Pati (Lord Shiva) and right alignment (dharma, devotion), not in weapons alone.

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

By showing the devas gathering external aids, the narrative implicitly contrasts worldly supports with the stable refuge of Saguna Shiva worship—approaching Shiva as the compassionate Lord who grants inner strength and removes bondage (pāśa) rather than merely increasing force.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to seek Shiva’s grace through Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and disciplined worship (abhisheka, Tripuṇḍra/bhasma reverence), treating external means as secondary to devotion and self-mastery.