Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

क्रौञ्चशरणागमनम् तथा बाणासुरवधः

Krauñca Seeks Refuge; Slaying of Bāṇāsura

Devanagari script

सोऽथ शेषस्य तनयः कुमुदोऽहिपतेर्महान् । कुमारशरणं प्राप्तस्तुष्टाव गिरिजात्मजम्

Transliteration

so'tha śeṣasya tanayaḥ kumudo'hipatermahān | kumāraśaraṇaṃ prāptastuṣṭāva girijātmajam

Translation

Da trat Kumuda, der ruhmreiche Sohn Śeṣas—des großen Herrn der Schlangen—zu Kumāra, um Zuflucht zu suchen, und pries in Hingabe Girijā’s göttlichen Sohn (Skanda).

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequencing particle)

• śeṣasya: of Śeṣa
• śeṣasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• tanayaḥ: son
• tanayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• kumudaḥ: Kumuda
• kumudaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumuda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ahi-pateḥ: of the lord of serpents
• ahi-pateḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahi (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha; aher patiḥ), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• mahān: great
• mahān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• kumāra-śaraṇam: refuge of Kumāra
• kumāra-śaraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra (प्रातिपदिक) + śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha; kumārasya śaraṇam), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• prāptaḥ: having attained/reached
• prāptaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāpta (कृदन्त; √āp धातु with pra-)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• tuṣṭāva: praised
• tuṣṭāva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: stu (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• girijā-ātmajam: son of Girijā (Pārvatī)
• girijā-ātmajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: girijā (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha; girijāyāḥ ātmajaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kumārakhaṇḍa account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shesha
• Kumuda
• Skanda (Kumara)
• Parvati (Girija)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) and stuti (praise) as core bhakti-acts: the devotee approaches a divine power aligned with Śiva’s will (Kumāra/Skanda) and, through humility and devotion, becomes fit for grace and protection.

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

Skanda is a saguna manifestation within Śiva’s sacred household and mission; honoring Girijā’s son is a way of honoring Śiva’s divine order. Such devotion complements Liṅga-worship by directing the mind toward Śiva’s tangible, grace-bearing forms and attendants.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform stuti and śaraṇāgati: recite Skanda/Śiva praises, repeat a Śaiva mantra such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and cultivate inner surrender before beginning worship (with bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa if one follows those disciplines).