Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34

दुन्दुभिनिर्ह्रादनिर्णयः / Dundubhinirhrāda’s Stratagem: Targeting the Brāhmaṇas

Devanagari script

अत्रेश्वरं समालोक्य कक्षीकृतमृगेश्वरम् । तुष्टुवुः प्रणतास्सर्वे शर्वं जयजयाक्षरैः

Transliteration

atreśvaraṃ samālokya kakṣīkṛtamṛgeśvaram | tuṣṭuvuḥ praṇatāssarve śarvaṃ jayajayākṣaraiḥ

Translation

మృగేశ్వరుని తన కక్ష్యలో ధరించిన అత్రేశ్వరుడైన శర్వుడిని దర్శించి, అందరూ నమస్కరించి “జయ జయ” అక్షరాలతో శివుని స్తుతించారు.

Word by Word

• अत्र-ईश्वरम्: the Lord (present there)
• अत्र-ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुषार्थ (sense: 'the lord here/this place')

• सम्-आलोक्य: having beheld
• सम्-आलोक्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्यय (Indeclinable verbal), अर्थ: 'having looked at'

• कक्षी-कृत-मृग-ईश्वरम्: the lord of beasts held in the armpit
• कक्षी-कृत-मृग-ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कक्षी (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय) + मृग (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (sense: 'the lord of beasts made/held in the armpit')

• तुष्टुवुः: praised
• तुष्टुवुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• प्रणताः: bowed down
• प्रणताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शर्वम्: Śarva (Śiva)
• शर्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• जय-जय-अक्षरैः: with the words “jaya, jaya”
• जय-जय-अक्षरैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक) + जय (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); द्वन्द्व (iterative cry 'jaya jaya' as a unit) + 'akṣaraiḥ' (with syllables/words)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Atreśvara is beheld as Śarva who has subdued/held close the ‘lord of beasts’ (mṛgeśvara), prompting collective surrender and victory-cries; the passage functions as a local-sthāna glorification rather than a Jyotirliṅga māhātmya.

Significance: Darśana of Śiva as Paśupati (Lord over the paśu) is framed as immediate refuge and assurance of protection; communal stuti and praṇāma are presented as efficacious.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: jaya jaya

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Śarva/Atreśvara)

FAQs

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

The verse centers on darśana (direct beholding) leading to praṇāma (humble surrender) and stuti (praise). In a Śaiva Siddhānta tone, it shows the soul (paśu) turning toward Pati (Śiva) through devotion—victory-cries express recognition of Śiva’s supreme lordship and protective grace.

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

The scene is Saguna—Śiva as Śarva/Atreśvara perceived and praised in form and leelā. Such praise and prostration are the same devotional movements used in Liṅga-worship: approach with reverence, offer salutations, and recite names/mantras that affirm Śiva’s victory over bondage and fear.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice implied is japa with bhāva: repeat “jaya jaya śarva” or the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), followed by namaskāra/prostration after darśana of the Liṅga or Śiva’s image—cultivating surrender and gratitude.