Shloka 28

द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारकथनम्

Account of the Twelve Jyotirliṅga Manifestations

Devanagari script

सुदक्षिणाभिधम्भक्तङ्कामरूपेश्वरन्नृपम् । यो ररक्षाद्भुतं हत्वासुरन्तं भक्तदुःखदम्

Transliteration

sudakṣiṇābhidhambhaktaṅkāmarūpeśvarannṛpam | yo rarakṣādbhutaṃ hatvāsurantaṃ bhaktaduḥkhadam

Translation

కామరూపేశ్వరుడైన భగవాన్ శివుడు సుదక్షిణ అనే భక్త రాజును అద్భుతంగా రక్షించి, భక్తులకు దుఃఖం కలిగించే అసురుణ్ని సంహరించాడు।

Word by Word

• सुदक्षिणाभिधम्: named Sudakṣiṇa
• सुदक्षिणाभिधम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुदक्षिणाभिध (प्रातिपदिक) = सुदक्षिणा + अभिध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (सुदक्षिणा इति अभिधा यस्य)

• भक्तम्: devotee
• भक्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कामरूपेश्वरम्: lord of Kāmarūpa
• कामरूपेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामरूपेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) = कामरूप + ईश्वर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कामरूपस्य ईश्वरः)

• नृपम्: king
• नृपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• ररक्ष: protected
• ररक्ष: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अद्भुतम्: wonderfully
• अद्भुतम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative: wonderfully)

• हत्वा: having slain
• हत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having slain)

• असुरम्: demon
• असुरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तम्: that (one)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम (demonstrative pronoun)

• भक्तदुःखदम्: giver of sorrow to devotees
• भक्तदुःखदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्तदुःखद (प्रातिपदिक) = भक्त + दुःखद
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (भक्तानां दुःखं ददाति इति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse recounts Śiva as Kāmarūpeśvara protecting the bhakta-king Sudakṣiṇa by slaying a demon tormenting devotees—an archetypal kṣetra-māhātmya motif of divine guardianship tied to a regional epithet (Kāmarūpa).

Significance: Frames Śiva as the immediate refuge of devotees and righteous rulers; emphasizes protection (rakṣā) and removal of duḥkha as fruits of devotion and kṣetra-connection.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sudakshina
• Kamarupeshvara
• Asura

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as Pati (the protecting Lord) who actively removes the devotees’ duḥkha by destroying adharmic forces; surrender and steady bhakti draw divine grace and protection.

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

Kāmarūpeśvara is a Saguna manifestation of Śiva tied to a sacred locale; the narrative supports worship of Śiva in a concrete form (including Liṅga worship) as a living refuge who responds to devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Take refuge in Śiva through bhakti—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple pūjā to the Liṅga, praying for removal of inner ‘asuras’ (anger, delusion) that cause suffering.