Shloka 36

Durgama’s Seizure of the Vedas and the Gods’ Refuge in Yogamāyā (दुर्गमकृतवेदनाशः—योगमायाशरणगमनम्)

Devanagari script

दुर्गमाख्यो महादैत्यो हतो यस्मात्ततः शिवे । दुर्गां भगवतीं भद्रां व्याहरिष्यंति मानवाः

Transliteration

durgamākhyo mahādaityo hato yasmāttataḥ śive | durgāṃ bhagavatīṃ bhadrāṃ vyāhariṣyaṃti mānavāḥ

Translation

హే శివే, ‘దుర్గమ’ అనే మహాదైత్యుడు నీచేత హతుడైనందున, మనుష్యులు ఆ కల్యాణి భద్ర భగవతిని ‘దుర్గా’ అని పిలుస్తారు।

Word by Word

• दुर्गमाख्यः: named Durgama
• दुर्गमाख्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durgama (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘महादैत्यः’ इत्यस्य; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (दुर्गम-नामकः)

• महादैत्यः: the great demon
• महादैत्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + daitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् दैत्यः)

• हतः: was slain
• हतः: Kriya (क्रिया/अवस्था)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘महादैत्यः’ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम्

• यस्मात्: because of which
• यस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yasmāt (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन; ‘because of which’ अर्थे

• ततः: therefore/then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘तस्मात्/ततः’ परिणामे

• शिवे: O Śivā
• शिवे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (देवी)

• दुर्गाम्: Durgā
• दुर्गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• भगवतीम्: the Blessed Goddess
• भगवतीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagavatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘दुर्गाम्’ इत्यस्य

• भद्राम्: auspicious
• भद्राम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhadrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘दुर्गाम्’ इत्यस्य

• व्याहरिष्यन्ति: will utter/call (you)
• व्याहरिष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + ā + hṛ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मानवाः: people/humans
• मानवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages, within the Uma Samhita context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: daitya-vadha (slaying of the demon Durgama) restoring dharma

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Durga
• Durgama

FAQs

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

The verse explains the sacred etymology of “Durgā”: the Goddess is invoked by a name born from her victory over adharma (Durgama). In Shaiva Siddhānta, this highlights Śiva’s grace operating through Śakti to protect devotees and restore dharma.

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

It supports Saguna devotion: devotees approach the Supreme through accessible forms and names—Śiva as Liṅga and the Devi as Durgā. The Divine Couple’s worship is complementary: Liṅga worship honors Pati, and Durgā worship honors His inseparable Śakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-japa: reverently invoking “Durgā” as a protective divine name, alongside Shaiva practice such as chanting the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and devotion to Śiva-Śakti.