Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3

क्रौञ्चशरणागमनम् तथा बाणासुरवधः

Krauñca Seeks Refuge; Slaying of Bāṇāsura

Devanagari script

प्रणिपत्य कुमारस्य स भक्त्या चरणाम्बुजम् । प्रेमनिर्भरया वाचा तुष्टाव गुहमादरात्

Transliteration

praṇipatya kumārasya sa bhaktyā caraṇāmbujam | premanirbharayā vācā tuṣṭāva guhamādarāt

Translation

In hingebungsvoller Bhakti verneigte er sich vor den Lotosfüßen Kumāras und pries darauf Guha mit ehrfürchtiger Sorgfalt, seine Worte von Liebe überströmend.

Word by Word

• प्रणिपत्य: having bowed down
• प्रणिपत्य: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla/Anterior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-नि-√पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable)

• कुमारस्य: of Kumāra
• कुमारस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (Karaṇa/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• चरणाम्बुजम्: the lotus-feet
• चरणाम्बुजम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक); चरणाम्बुज (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय (‘lotus-like feet’)

• प्रेमनिर्भरया: with (a voice) full of love
• प्रेमनिर्भरया: करण (Karaṇa; qualifier of instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेमन् + निर्भर (प्रातिपदिक); प्रेमनिर्भर (समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying वाचा); तत्पुरुष (‘filled with love’)

• वाचा: with speech/words
• वाचा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• तुष्टाव: praised
• तुष्टाव: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• गुहम्: Guhā (Kumāra/Skanda)
• गुहम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: हेतु (Hetu/Cause; ablative of cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it foregrounds bhakti as the proximate cause for receiving grace (anugraha) through prostration at the Lord’s feet (caraṇāmbuja).

Significance: General: śaraṇāgati with bhakti (praṇipāta + stuti) is portrayed as efficacious for protection and eventual liberation.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Kartikeya

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed through humility (praṇāma at the lotus-feet) and loving praise (stuti), indicating that reverence and heartfelt devotion are primary means to receive divine grace.

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

Kumāra/Guha is revered within the Shaiva devotional sphere; honoring Shiva’s divine family and manifestations supports saguna-upāsanā—approaching the Divine through personal form, devotion, and praise.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is implied: offer praṇāma, mentally dwell on the deity’s lotus-feet, and recite a stotra with love and steadiness—devotional japa or hymn-recitation done with ādar (reverent attention).