Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

कुमाराद्भुतचरितवर्णनम् — Description of Kumāra’s Wondrous Deeds

Devanagari script

दीनबंधुर्दयासिन्धुस्सुसेव्या भक्तवत्सलः । हरिब्रह्मादिदेवैश्च सुस्तुतः परमेश्वरः

Transliteration

dīnabaṃdhurdayāsindhussusevyā bhaktavatsalaḥ | haribrahmādidevaiśca sustutaḥ parameśvaraḥ

Translation

إنَّ باراميشڤارا هو صديقُ المساكين، ومحيطُ الرحمة، جديرٌ دائمًا بالخدمة التعبُّدية، رقيقُ المودّة نحو عبّاده. وهو مُشادٌ به حسنَ الثناء حتى من هاري (فيشنو) وبراهما وسائر الآلهة.

Word by Word

• दीन-बन्धुः: friend of the poor
• दीन-बन्धुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दीनानां बन्धुः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दया-सिन्धुः: ocean of compassion
• दया-सिन्धुः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक) + सिन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (दया एव सिन्धुः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सु-सेव्यः: worthy to be well served
• सु-सेव्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + सेव् (धातु) + यत्/ण्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: ‘to be served’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भक्त-वत्सलः: affectionate to devotees
• भक्त-वत्सलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (भक्तेषु वत्सलः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• हरि-ब्रह्म-आदि-देवैः: by Hari, Brahmā and other gods
• हरि-ब्रह्म-आदि-देवैः: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-तत्पुरुष/बहुपद-समास (‘हरिश्च ब्रह्म च आदयश्च ये देवाः’ इत्यर्थे); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

• सु-स्तुतः: well-praised
• सु-स्तुतः: Kriya (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + स्तु (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परम-ईश्वरः: the supreme Lord
• परम-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (परमः ईश्वरः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: दीनबंधुर्दयासिन्धुस्सुसेव्या भक्तवत्सलः । हरिब्रह्मादिदेवैश्च सुस्तुतः परमेश्वरः

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse presents Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) whose defining mark is grace—He protects the helpless, overflows with compassion, and responds to bhakti. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it highlights Śiva’s anugraha (saving grace) as the means by which the bound soul turns toward liberation.

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

By calling Śiva “susevya” and “bhaktavatsala,” it emphasizes accessible, Saguna worship—serving, praising, and approaching Him with devotion. Linga worship embodies this: the devotee offers stuti and seva to the manifest symbol of the Supreme who is also praised by Viṣṇu and Brahmā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The direct takeaway is stuti and seva: daily praise of Śiva and devoted worship. Practically, this aligns with japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple Linga-upacāras (offering water, bilva leaves, and prayers) with a compassionate, devotee-centered mindset.