Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

तस्माच्छरणमापन्नान्देवान्नस्त्रातुमर्हथः । वधोपायं च तस्याशु चिन्तयेथां युवां प्रभू

Transliteration

tasmāccharaṇamāpannāndevānnastrātumarhathaḥ | vadhopāyaṃ ca tasyāśu cintayethāṃ yuvāṃ prabhū

Translation

ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಶರಣಾಗತರಾದ ನಮ್ಮ ದೇವರನ್ನು ನೀವು ಇಬ್ಬರೂ ಪ್ರಭುಗಳು ರಕ್ಷಿಸಬೇಕು. ಹಾಗೆಯೇ, ಅವನ ವಧೆಯ ಉಪಾಯವನ್ನು ಶೀಘ್ರವಾಗಿ ಚಿಂತಿಸಿರಿ.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (ablative used adverbially: ‘therefore/from that’); मूलतः पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; आपन्नान् इत्यस्य कर्म

• आपन्नान्: having sought/attained (refuge)
• आपन्नान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + पद् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → आपन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; देवान् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• नः: our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (genitive) बहुवचन; ‘our’

• त्रातुम्: to protect
• त्रातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• अर्हथः: you two ought/are able
• अर्हथः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वध-उपायम्: a means for killing (him)
• वध-उपायम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक) + उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (means of slaying); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samucchaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: quickly)

• चिन्तयेथाम्: you two should consider
• चिन्तयेथाम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• युवाम्: you two
• युवाम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रभू: O lords
• प्रभू: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, द्विवचन; युवाम् इत्यस्य संबोधनम्

Speaker

The Devas (addressing Brahma and Vishnu)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) as a decisive spiritual act: when beings are overwhelmed by adharma, they seek higher protection, implying that true safety ultimately rests in the supreme divine order upheld by Shiva (Pati) in Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

Though the Devas appeal to two cosmic rulers for help, the Shiva Purana’s broader framing points beyond limited powers to the supreme refuge—Saguna Shiva worshiped as the Linga—who grants protection and the right means to remove destructive forces.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is refuge through mantra and devotion—especially japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a protective intent—supported by disciplined conduct; the verse’s urgency also aligns with focused prayer for removal of obstacles.