Shloka 26

शिवानुकम्पा, ब्रह्मणो निर्भयत्वं च (Śiva’s Compassion and Brahmā’s Fearlessness)

Devanagari script

तैस्तु संछादिते व्योम्नि सुगर्जद्भिश्च शंकरः । प्रशान्दाक्षायणी देवी भृशं शांतोऽभवद्द्रुतम्

Transliteration

taistu saṃchādite vyomni sugarjadbhiśca śaṃkaraḥ | praśāndākṣāyaṇī devī bhṛśaṃ śāṃto'bhavaddrutam

Translation

ആകാശം അവരാൽ മൂടപ്പെടുകയും അവർ ഉച്ചത്തിൽ ഗർജ്ജിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തപ്പോൾ, ശങ്കരൻ (ശിവൻ) അത്യന്തം അസ്വസ്ഥനായി; എന്നാൽ ദക്ഷപുത്രിയായ സതീദേവി ശാന്തയായിരുന്ന് അദ്ദേഹത്തെ വേഗത്തിൽ പൂർണ്ണമായും ശാന്തനാക്കി.

Word by Word

• taiḥ: by them
• taiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• tu: but, indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle: but/indeed)

• saṃchādite: (when) covered
• saṃchādite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃ-√chad (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; 'when/with (it) being covered' (agreeing with vyomni)

• vyomni: in the sky
• vyomni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyoman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• su-garjadbhiḥ: by (those) roaring loudly
• su-garjadbhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + √garj (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक-तृतीया बहुवचन (context: agents making loud roar); 'roaring loudly'

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

• śaṃkaraḥ: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• śaṃkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• praśānta-ākṣāyaṇī: the calm Ākṣāyaṇī (Satī)
• praśānta-ākṣāyaṇī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśānta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक, √śam + क्त) + ākṣāyaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (praśāntā eva ākṣāyaṇī)

• devī: the goddess
• devī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• bhṛśam: greatly, exceedingly
• bhṛśam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhṛśam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, परिमाण/तीव्रतावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: greatly)

• śāntaḥ: calmed, pacified
• śāntaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √śam (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (agreeing with śaṃkaraḥ)

• abhavat: became
• abhavat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• drutam: quickly
• drutam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: drutam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: quickly)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: storm-clouds and thunder obscuring the sky

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta vision of Śiva and Śakti as inseparable: even when Rudra’s fierce energy is provoked, the Goddess’ serene consciousness restores divine equilibrium, teaching the devotee that true power is guided by śānti (inner stillness).

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

The verse reflects Saguna Śiva—who responds within līlā—yet is brought to tranquility through Śakti. In Linga worship, the devotee similarly approaches the manifest Lord with offerings and mantra to invoke auspiciousness (śaṅkara-bhāva) and pacify inner turbulence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śānti-sādhana: japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with calm breath and a composed mind, optionally wearing Rudrākṣa and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) to cultivate cooling devotion that steadies intense emotions.