Shloka 30

Durgama’s Seizure of the Vedas and the Gods’ Refuge in Yogamāyā (दुर्गमकृतवेदनाशः—योगमायाशरणगमनम्)

Devanagari script

असंख्यातास्ततो जाता मातरो दिव्यमूर्त्तयः । चन्द्रलेखाधरास्सर्वास्सर्वा विद्युतत्समप्रभाः

Transliteration

asaṃkhyātāstato jātā mātaro divyamūrttayaḥ | candralekhādharāssarvāssarvā vidyutatsamaprabhāḥ

Translation

ಆಗ ದಿವ್ಯಮೂರ್ತಿಯುಳ್ಳ ಅಸಂಖ್ಯಾತ ಮಾತೃಗಳು ಉದ್ಭವಿಸಿದವು. ಎಲ್ಲರ ಲಲಾಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಚಂದ್ರಲೇಖೆ ಇದ್ದು, ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ ಸಮ ಪ್ರಕಾಶದಿಂದ ದೀಪ್ತರಾದರು।

Word by Word

• asaṃkhyātāḥ: countless
• asaṃkhyātāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-saṃkhyāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying mātaraḥ

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• jātāḥ: were born/arose
• jātāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (जन् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: past passive participle (क्त, कर्मणि) from √jan; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन) agreeing with mātaraḥ

• mātaraḥ: mothers (Mātṛs)
• mātaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• divya-mūrtayaḥ: of divine forms
• divya-mūrtayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound 'divine-formed'; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन) appositional to mātaraḥ

• candra-lekhā-dharāḥ: bearing moon-crests
• candra-lekhā-dharāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + lekhā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound 'bearing moon-crests/lines'; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन) qualifying mātaraḥ

• sarvāḥ: all
• sarvāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarvāḥ: all
• sarvāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); reiteration for emphasis

• vidyut-tat-sama-prabhāḥ: with splendor like lightning
• vidyut-tat-sama-prabhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidyut (प्रातिपदिक) + tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain compound: 'having radiance equal to that of lightning'; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन) qualifying mātaraḥ

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Divine Mothers (Mātṛkās/Śaktis)
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the manifestation of innumerable Śaktis (Divine Mothers) as luminous divine powers—showing that the Lord’s grace and power can appear in countless forms to uphold dharma and guide souls toward liberation under Pati (Śiva).

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

The Mothers bearing the crescent-moon mark echo Śiva’s iconography, indicating their dependence on and unity with Saguna Śiva’s presence; Linga-worship honors Śiva as the source, while reverence to Śakti honors His manifest power (śakti) active in the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva with the crescent-moon emblem and contemplate His śakti as radiant like lightning; accompany this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to steady the mind in the Lord’s luminous presence.