Shloka 74

रावणस्य तपः-शिवानुग्रहः — Rāvaṇa’s Austerity and Śiva’s Bestowal of Grace

Devanagari script

निश्चयं परमं कृत्वा बली बलविमोहितः । जगद्वशं हि कृतवान्रावणः परदर्पहा

Transliteration

niścayaṃ paramaṃ kṛtvā balī balavimohitaḥ | jagadvaśaṃ hi kṛtavānrāvaṇaḥ paradarpahā

Translation

അചഞ്ചലമായ നിശ്ചയം എടുത്ത്, ആ ബലവാൻ തന്റെ ശക്തിയാൽ തന്നെ മോഹിതനായി; മറ്റുള്ളവരുടെ ദർപ്പം തകർക്കുന്ന രാവണൻ സത്യമായി ലോകത്തെ തന്റെ അധീനത്തിലാക്കി।

Word by Word

• निश्चयम्: a resolve
• निश्चयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme/firm
• परमम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन; (qualifying निश्चयम्)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; 'having made'

• बली: the powerful one
• बली: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• बलविमोहितः: deluded by power
• बलविमोहितः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल + विमोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'deluded by strength/power' (qualifying बली/रावणः)

• जगत्-वशम्: the world’s subjugation
• जगत्-वशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'the subjugation of the world / world under control'

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/बलार्थ (emphasis/indeed)

• कृतवान्: did / accomplished
• कृतवान्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb; periphrastic)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त (perfect participle/agentive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; finite sense: 'did/has done'

• रावणः: Rāvaṇa
• रावणः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• परदर्पहा: destroyer of others’ pride
• परदर्पहा: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर + दर्प + ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: 'destroyer of others’ pride' (qualifying रावणः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Contextual lead-in to the Vaidyanātha-māhātmya: Rāvaṇa’s overreaching conquest sets the karmic stage for Śiva’s later reorientation of power toward dharma and devotion.

Significance: Implicit warning: worldly domination born of bala (power) without śiva-bhakti/niyama deepens bondage; hearing the māhātmya later is presented as the corrective.

Characters & Entities

• Ravana

FAQs

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

It highlights how determination, when driven by ahaṅkāra (ego) and intoxication with power, becomes bondage (pāśa): worldly domination is shown as spiritually barren unless surrendered to Pati (Śiva), the true Lord who grants liberation.

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

Rāvaṇa’s worldly conquest contrasts with the purpose of Liṅga-worship: approaching Saguna Śiva with humility and devotion to dissolve pride. The Kotirudra context frames true greatness as Śiva-bhakti rather than mere force.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and a prayer for ego-dissolution—transforming resolve into devotion rather than power-driven ambition.