Shloka 4

व्योमवाणी-श्रवणं, गणानां शरणागमनं, सती-दाह-वृत्तान्तः — Hearing the Heavenly Voice; The Gaṇas Seek Refuge; Account of Satī’s Self-Immolation

Devanagari script

पलायमाना ये वीरा भृगुमंत्रबलेन ते । अवशिष्टा श्शिवगणाश्शिवं शरणमाययुः

Transliteration

palāyamānā ye vīrā bhṛgumaṃtrabalena te | avaśiṣṭā śśivagaṇāśśivaṃ śaraṇamāyayuḥ

Translation

ഭൃഗുവിന്റെ മന്ത്രബലത്താൽ അടിച്ചമർത്തപ്പെട്ട് ഓടിപ്പോയ ആ വീരന്മാർ—ശേഷിച്ച ശിവഗണങ്ങൾ—ശിവനിൽ ശരണം പ്രാപിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• पलायमानाः: fleeing
• पलायमानाः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (कर्ता-सम्बन्ध/Agent-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पलायमान (कृदन्त; √पलाय् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; present active participle, masculine, nominative plural

• ये: who
• ये: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; pronoun, masculine, nominative plural

• वीराः: heroes/warriors
• वीराः: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; masculine, nominative plural

• भृगु-मन्त्र-बलेन: by the power of Bhṛgu’s mantra
• भृगु-मन्त्र-बलेन: करण (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु + मन्त्र + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (बल), तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental singular

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; pronoun, masculine, nominative plural

• अवशिष्टाः: remaining
• अवशिष्टाः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवशिष्ट (कृदन्त; √शिष् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; past passive participle, masculine, nominative plural

• शिवगणाः: Śiva’s attendants (gaṇas)
• शिवगणाः: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; masculine, nominative plural

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; masculine, accusative singular

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: गति/उपपद-सम्बन्ध (Goal/Refuge complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; neuter, accusative singular (used adverbially: ‘as refuge’)

• आययुः: went/approached
• आययुः: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; perfect, active, 3rd person plural

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Taking śaraṇāgati (refuge) in Śiva is portrayed as the turning point from defeat and fear toward protection and eventual grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhṛgu
• Shiva Ganas

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati—when even powerful beings are shaken by opposing forces, the sure refuge is Śiva as Pati (the Lord). In Shaiva Siddhanta, surrender to Śiva and His grace is the decisive protection that loosens bondage (pāśa).

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

The gaṇas ‘go to Śiva for refuge,’ reflecting the devotional approach to Saguna Śiva—approaching the Lord as protector and master. In practice, this is mirrored in turning to Śiva-Liṅga worship for sanctuary, purification, and restoration of divine order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to practice śiva-śaraṇāgati through japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and prayer for protection; this verse supports refuge-centered bhakti rather than reliance on mere force.