Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41

जालन्धरस्य दूतप्रेषणम् — Jalandhara Sends an Envoy to Kailāsa

The Provocation of Śiva

Devanagari script

पुरुष उवाच । देवदेव महादेव करुणाकर शंकर । त्याजितं मम भक्ष्यं ते शरणागतवत्सलः

Transliteration

puruṣa uvāca | devadeva mahādeva karuṇākara śaṃkara | tyājitaṃ mama bhakṣyaṃ te śaraṇāgatavatsalaḥ

Translation

Der Mann sprach: „O Gott der Götter, o Mahādeva, o Śaṅkara, Ozean des Erbarmens! Du, der du die Zuflucht Suchenden stets liebst, hast auf das verzichtet, was meine Speise sein sollte.“

Word by Word

• पुरुषः: the man/person
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• देव-देव: O God of gods
• देव-देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘of gods’ + ‘god’ = ‘god of gods’), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• महादेव: O Mahādeva
• महादेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास, पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• करुणा-कर: O maker of compassion/compassionate one
• करुणा-कर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करुणा (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (करुणां करोति/करुणायाः करः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• शंकर: O Śaṅkara
• शंकर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• त्याजितम्: abandoned/given up
• त्याजितम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here as predicate with implied ‘is/has been’

• मम: my
• मम: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भक्ष्यम्: food (to be eaten)
• भक्ष्यम्: Karma/Predicative object (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ते: your
• ते: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (genitive/dative), एकवचन; here best as षष्ठी ‘your’

• शरणागत-वत्सलः: affectionate to those who seek refuge
• शरणागत-वत्सलः: Sambodhyasya-viśeṣaṇa (सम्बोध्यविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरणागत (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शरणागतान् प्रति वत्सलः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बोधितस्य (शिवस्य) विशेषण

Speaker

Puruṣa (a man addressing Lord Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: देवदेव महादेव करुणाकर शंकर । … शरणागतवत्सलः

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as Karuṇākara and Śaraṇāgatavatsala—one who responds to surrender by compassionately protecting the devotee, even at personal cost, reinforcing bhakti as a direct path to grace.

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

The address to Mahādeva and Śaṅkara reflects Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva as a personal Lord who hears prayers and acts in the world; such surrender is central to Linga-worship where the devotee seeks refuge in Śiva’s presence and mercy.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati with japa—mentally offering oneself to Śiva while repeating the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), accompanied by simple devotion such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and reverent prayer for protection and purification.