Shloka 24
Śiva-nāma-smaraṇa and Śambhu’s Protective Manifestation
Dāruka Episode
इयं च दारुका देवी राक्षसी शक्तिका मम । बलिष्ठा राक्षसीनां च रक्षोराज्यं प्रशास्तु च
iyaṃ ca dārukā devī rākṣasī śaktikā mama | baliṣṭhā rākṣasīnāṃ ca rakṣorājyaṃ praśāstu ca
ఇదే దారుకా దేవి—నా శక్తిసంపన్న రాక్షసీ భార్య. రాక్షసీలలో ఆమెనే అత్యంత బలవంతురాలు; కావున ఆమె రాక్షస రాజ్యాన్ని పాలించి శాసించుగాక.
Dāruka (the rākṣasa king), as narrated by Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pasha
Sthala Purana: Sets the adharmic political backdrop: the rākṣasa-king Dāruka empowers Dārukā to consolidate rākṣasa rule, which later necessitates Śiva’s intervention for bhakta-protection.
Significance: Contextual (prelude) verse: illustrates how worldly power structures (rākṣasa-rājya) become instruments of pāśa (bondage) when driven by tamas and himsā.
FAQs
It highlights how worldly authority and even extraordinary śakti can be directed toward dominion and control; in Shaiva thought, such power remains within saṃsāra unless surrendered to Pati (Śiva) through devotion and dharma.
Koṭirudrasaṃhitā commonly frames Jyotirliṅga narratives with surrounding political and demonic episodes; such passages set the contrast between temporal rule and the higher refuge of Saguna Śiva manifested as the Liṅga.
No direct ritual is prescribed in this line; the practical takeaway is to redirect one’s śakti toward Shiva-upāsanā—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Liṅga-bhakti—rather than mere pursuit of dominance.