Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 257

ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः

Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins

Devanagari script

समाश्रितस्तदा दैत्यान्युद्धं देवैश्चकार ह । मयाऽत्रिणा निषिद्धश्च तस्मै तारां ददौ शशी

Transliteration

samāśritastadā daityānyuddhaṃ devaiścakāra ha | mayā'triṇā niṣiddhaśca tasmai tārāṃ dadau śaśī

Translation

随后他投靠阿修罗族（代提耶），确实与诸天神（提婆）开战；但被我与圣仙阿特里所制止，因此月神（娑尸，Śaśī）将塔拉（Tārā）交予他。

Word by Word

• समाश्रितः: having resorted to / having taken refuge
• समाश्रितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-श्रि (धातु) → समाश्रित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle used adjectivally

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• दैत्यान्: the demons (Daityas)
• दैत्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• देवैः: with the gods / by the gods
• देवैः: Sahakari/Karana (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

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

• चकार: did / made / waged
• चकार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed
• ह: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/metrical)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• अत्रिणा: by Atri
• अत्रिणा: Sahakari/Karana (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• निषिद्धः: (he) was forbidden / restrained
• निषिद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-षिध् (धातु) → निषिद्ध (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle

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

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन)

• ताराम्: Tārā
• ताराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• शशी: the Moon (Śaśī)
• शशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Tārā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Daityas
• Devas
• Atri
• Shashi (Chandra)
• Tara

FAQs

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

It highlights that even powerful beings become bound when they seek support in adharmic forces; restraint by sages restores dharma, showing that spiritual authority (tapas and right counsel) can pacify conflict.

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

In the Shiva Purana’s Shaiva frame, dharma is safeguarded by aligning one’s actions with Śiva as Pati (the guiding Lord). Linga-worship symbolizes steadiness and self-restraint—qualities contrasted here with impulsive warfare.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is self-restraint supported by mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—along with sattvic discipline; this is the inner ‘niṣedha’ that prevents the mind from entering conflict.