Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 50

विष्णोः स्तुतिः—शिवसतीरक्षावचनम्

Viṣṇu’s Hymn and the Petition for Śiva–Satī’s Protection

Devanagari script

विष्णुरुवाच । विधिन्न जहि भूतेश स्रष्टारं जगतां प्रभुम् । अयं शरणगस्तेद्य शरणागतवत्सलः

Transliteration

viṣṇuruvāca | vidhinna jahi bhūteśa sraṣṭāraṃ jagatāṃ prabhum | ayaṃ śaraṇagastedya śaraṇāgatavatsalaḥ

Translation

Viṣṇu sprach: «O Bhūteśa, Herr der Wesen, schlage den Schöpfer nicht nieder—Brahmā, den Gebieter, der die Welten hervorbringt. Heute ist er zu Dir gekommen, um Zuflucht zu suchen; und Du, o Śiva, bist stets den Zuflucht Suchenden zugetan.»

Word by Word

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• विधिन्: O Vidhin (Brahmā)
• विधिन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचनम्; (पाठभेदः: ‘विधिन्न’ इति नकारागमः/संबोधन-प्रयोगः)

• जहि: strike/kill
• जहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• भूतेश: O Lord of beings
• भूतेश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतेश (प्रातिपदिक) = भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘lord of beings’)

• स्रष्टारम्: the creator
• स्रष्टारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचनम्

• प्रभुम्: the lord/master
• प्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्

• अयम्: this person
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• शरणगतः: one who has taken refuge
• शरणगतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरणगत (प्रातिपदिक) = शरण (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; भूतकृदन्तः—क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः; द्वितीया-तत्पुरुषः (‘gone to refuge’)

• ते: of you/your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी) एकवचनम् (genitive singular)

• इद्य: worthy of praise
• इद्य: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; ‘स्तुत्य/पूज्य’ अर्थे (worthy of praise)

• शरणागतवत्सलः: loving to those who take refuge
• शरणागतवत्सलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरणागतवत्सल (प्रातिपदिक) = शरणागत (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (‘affectionate to those who seek refuge’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śaraṇāgati—taking refuge in Śiva—as a direct means to receive grace. Even a cosmic authority like Brahmā is portrayed as protected when he surrenders, emphasizing Śiva as the compassionate Pati who responds to sincere surrender.

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

Calling Śiva “śaraṇāgata-vatsala” supports Saguna devotion: devotees approach Śiva as a personal Lord who actively protects and forgives. In Liṅga worship, this mood is expressed through humble prayer and seeking shelter at Śiva’s feet, trusting His saving compassion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is śaraṇāgati with mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—performed with a refuge-seeking attitude, accompanied by simple devotion such as offering water to the Liṅga and praying for protection and purification.