Shloka 27

Droṇācārya’s Tapas and the Manifestation of Śiva: The Birth-Grant of Aśvatthāmā (अश्वत्थामा-अवतार-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

शिवं स्मर द्रुतं शम्भुं स्वप्रभुम्भक्तरक्षकम् । येन दत्तं हि ते स्वास्त्रं सर्वकार्य्यकरम्परम्

Transliteration

śivaṃ smara drutaṃ śambhuṃ svaprabhumbhaktarakṣakam | yena dattaṃ hi te svāstraṃ sarvakāryyakaramparam

Translation

จงระลึกถึงพระศิวะ—ศัมภุ—โดยเร็ว พระองค์คือพระผู้เป็นเจ้าของเจ้าและผู้พิทักษ์ภักตะ เพราะพระองค์เองได้ประทานอาวุธของเจ้า อันประเสริฐและสามารถบันดาลให้กิจทั้งปวงสำเร็จ

Word by Word

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• स्मर: remember
• स्मर: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• शम्भुम्: Śambhu
• शम्भुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• स्व-प्रभुम्: one’s own lord
• स्व-प्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (स्वः प्रभुः)

• भक्त-रक्षकम्: protector of devotees
• भक्त-रक्षकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भक्तानां रक्षकः)

• येन: by whom
• येन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative)

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया—कृत)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (with implied 'अस्त्रम्')

• हि: indeed
• हि: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis/indeed)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (Genitive/Dative), एकवचन; here: चतुर्थी-अर्थे (to you)

• स्व-अस्त्रम्: your own weapon
• स्व-अस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (स्वम् अस्त्रम्)

• सर्व-कार्य-करम्: accomplishing all tasks
• सर्व-कार्य-करम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वाणि कार्याणि करोति)

• अम्परम्: unsurpassed/supreme
• अम्परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अम्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (rare/poetic)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga episode; the verse functions as a doctrinal pivot: remembrance (smaraṇa) of Śiva as Bhakta-rakṣaka and giver of divine astras.

Significance: Establishes smaraṇa of Śiva as immediate refuge and grace-bestowing act (anugraha) for the bound soul in crisis.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śivaṃ smara drutaṃ śambhuṃ svaprabhuṃ bhaktarakṣakam

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance of Shiva) as immediate refuge: Shiva, as Pati (the Lord), protects the bhakta and grants the power needed to overcome obstacles—ultimately pointing to grace as the decisive force behind success and liberation.

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

By invoking Śambhu as the devotee’s protector, the verse supports Saguna upāsanā—approaching Shiva with form and attributes (as the compassionate guardian). Linga-worship concretizes this remembrance, making the mind steady in Shiva’s presence and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A direct takeaway is daily smaraṇa and japa—especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—before any undertaking, with bhakti-based surrender, trusting Shiva as the giver of inner strength (the ‘weapon’) to complete all rightful actions.