Shiva Purana — Satarudra Samhita, Shloka 12

द्विजेश्वरावतारः

The Manifestation of Shiva as Dvijeśvara

Devanagari script

अथ तौ मुनिशार्दूलः स्वमायाद्विजदम्पती । भद्रायुषं महाराजमूचतुर्भयविह्वलौ

Transliteration

atha tau muniśārdūlaḥ svamāyādvijadampatī | bhadrāyuṣaṃ mahārājamūcaturbhayavihvalau

Translation

随后，那位“诸仙中之猛虎”的牟尼，以自身的幻力（摩耶）携同婆罗门夫妇；二人因恐惧而战栗，遂向大王婆陀罗优沙（Bhadrāyuṣa）启禀。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• मुनिशार्दूलः: tiger among sages (great sage)
• मुनिशार्दूलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मुनीनां शार्दूलः = श्रेष्ठः)

• स्वमाया: his own māyā (illusion/power)
• स्वमाया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (स्वा माया)

• द्विजदम्पती: the brāhmaṇa couple
• द्विजदम्पती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + दम्पती (प्रातिपदिक; दम्पति-शब्दस्य द्विवचनरूपम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्विजौ दम्पती = ब्राह्मण-दम्पती)

• भद्रायुषम्: Bhadrāyu (acc.)
• भद्रायुषम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्रायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• महाराजम्: the great king
• महाराजम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् राजा)

• ऊचतुः: they said
• ऊचतुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• भयविह्वलौ: agitated with fear
• भयविह्वलौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष (भयेन विह्वलौ)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Bhadrāyuṣa
• muni (sage)
• dvija-dampatī (brahmin couple)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how worldly fear can arise even amid extraordinary events, and how guidance from realized sages becomes a channel for turning fear into śaraṇāgati (surrender), a key Shaiva movement toward Shiva’s grace.

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

Though the verse itself is narrative, the Śatarudrasaṃhitā commonly frames such encounters as preparation for devotion—where the frightened mind is steadied and redirected toward Saguna Shiva worship (often through linga-oriented reverence) as a means to overcome agitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate takeaway is to calm fear through japa and remembrance of Shiva—classically the Panchākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya")—and to seek instruction from a guru-like sage when the mind is overwhelmed.