Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 47

अनिरुद्धापहरणानन्तरं कृष्णस्य शोणितपुरगमनम् तथा रुद्रकृष्णयुद्धारम्भः | After Aniruddha’s Abduction: Kṛṣṇa Marches to Śoṇitapura and the Rudra–Kṛṣṇa Battle Begins

Devanagari script

नाना भावैर्लीलयैव स्वीकृतैर्निर्जरादिकान् । नूनं बिभषिं लोकेशो हंस्युन्मार्गान्स्वभावतः

Transliteration

nānā bhāvairlīlayaiva svīkṛtairnirjarādikān | nūnaṃ bibhaṣiṃ lokeśo haṃsyunmārgānsvabhāvataḥ

Translation

«حقًّا، يا ربَّ العوالم، باتخاذك أحوالًا شتّى وبـلِيلا—حِيَلِ اللعب الإلهي—قد أخضعتَ الآلهةَ وغيرَهم لسلطانك. ولذلك تبدو الآن كأنك تكبحُ مسالكَ من يندفعون بطبيعتهم نحو الهلاك.»

Word by Word

• नाना: various
• नाना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (variously/many kinds)

• भावैः: by states/manifestations
• भावैः: Karana (करण/Instrument; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• लीलया: by play/sport
• लीलया: Karana (करण/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (indeed/only)

• स्वीकृतैः: having been assumed/adopted
• स्वीकृतैः: Karana (करण/Instrument; with)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वी-√कृ (धातु) → स्वीकृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of implied means/agents)

• निर्जर-आदिकान्: the gods and others
• निर्जर-आदिकान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्जर (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (the gods and others)

• नूनम्: surely
• नूनम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नूनम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक (certainly)

• बिभर्षि: you bear/support
• बिभर्षि: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लोकेशः: O Lord of the world(s)
• लोकेशः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन; sense-wise address though nominative form)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (lord of the worlds)

• हंसि: you slay/destroy
• हंसि: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उन्मार्गान्: those on the wrong path
• उन्मार्गान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उन्मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्वभावतः: by nature
• स्वभावतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause; ablative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverbial: by nature/from innate disposition)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, with the verse reflecting a character’s addressed praise within the narration)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas (Nirjara)

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva as Pati—the sovereign Lord whose grace governs even the devas—who, through līlā, restrains destructive impulses and redirects beings toward dharma and ultimately liberation.

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

The verse points to Saguna Shiva as the active Lord of the worlds who intervenes in history and battle. Linga-worship trains the devotee to surrender to that governing grace (anugraha) that checks ruinous tendencies and restores right order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa with devotion—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—cultivating śaraṇāgati (surrender) so one’s natural impulses are restrained and aligned with Shiva’s dharmic guidance.