Shloka 1

Kāmarūpeśvara’s Trial and Śiva’s Hidden Protection (कামरूपेश्वर-रक्षा-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । शिवोऽपि च गणैस्सार्द्धं जगाम हितकाम्यया । स्वभक्तनिकटं गुप्तस्तस्थौ रक्षार्थमादरात्

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | śivo'pi ca gaṇaissārddhaṃ jagāma hitakāmyayā | svabhaktanikaṭaṃ guptastasthau rakṣārthamādarāt

Translation

สูตกล่าวว่า—ด้วยพระประสงค์เพื่อเกื้อกูล พระศิวะก็เสด็จไปพร้อมหมู่คณะคณะ (คณะของพระองค์) และทรงซ่อนกายประทับใกล้ภักตะของพระองค์ด้วยความเคารพ เพื่อคุ้มครองภักตะนั้น

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षा-अव्यय (particle: ‘also/even’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गणैः: with the attendants (gaṇas)
• गणैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• सार्धम्: together with
• सार्धम्: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अर्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable: ‘together with’)

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• हित-काम्यया: out of desire for (their) welfare
• हित-काम्यया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक) + काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘हितस्य काम्या’ (desire for welfare)

• स्व-भक्त-निकटम्: near his devotee
• स्व-भक्त-निकटम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + निकट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘स्वस्य भक्तस्य निकटम्’

• गुप्तः: hidden
• गुप्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप्त (गुप् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP), विशेषणम् (to शिवः)

• तस्थौ: stood; remained
• तस्थौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• रक्षा-अर्थम्: for protection
• रक्षा-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् (purpose: ‘for protection’)

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान/हेतु-भावः (ablative: ‘out of respect’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames Śiva’s protective nearness to a devotee, a common Purāṇic motif of the Lord ‘moving’ with gaṇas to safeguard bhaktas.

Significance: Establishes the bhakta-rakṣaṇa theme: remembrance of Śiva as the hidden protector is said to remove fear and obstacles for devotees.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s role as Pati (the Lord) who actively safeguards the pashu (bound soul/devotee) through grace. His protection is not merely worldly rescue but a compassionate guardianship that supports the devotee’s dharma and inner steadiness on the path to liberation.

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

It emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Śiva with attributes—who responds to bhakti and protects devotees. In Jyotirliṅga contexts, this same protecting presence is experienced through sacred places and liṅga worship, where the devotee seeks refuge and Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) expressed through steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and daily protective devotion such as applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with remembrance of Śiva as the guardian of the bhakta.