Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1

शिवदूतस्य शङ्खचूडकुलप्रवेशः — The Śiva-Envoy’s Entry into Śaṅkhacūḍa’s City

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । अथेशानो महारुद्रो दुष्टकालस्सतांगतिः । शंखचूडवधं चित्ते निश्चिकाय सुरेच्छया

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | atheśāno mahārudro duṣṭakālassatāṃgatiḥ | śaṃkhacūḍavadhaṃ citte niścikāya surecchayā

Translation

Sanatkumāra sprach: Darauf fasste Īśāna — Mahārudra, Züchtiger der Frevler und Zuflucht der Frommen — in seinem Herzen den Entschluss, gemäß dem Wunsch der Götter die Tötung Śaṅkhacūḍas zu bewirken.

Word by Word

• sanatkumāraḥ: Sanatkumāra
• sanatkumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanat-kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—सनत् (पुरातनः) कुमारः इति (कर्मधारय)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भबोधक (then/now)

• īśānaḥ: Īśāna (the Lord)
• īśānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mahārudraḥ: Mahārudra
• mahārudraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—महान् रुद्रः इति (कर्मधारय)

• duṣṭakālaḥ: Duṣṭakāla (evil time/personified; epithet)
• duṣṭakālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duṣṭa-kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—दुष्टः कालः इति (कर्मधारय)

• satāṃgatiḥ: refuge/goal of the good
• satāṃgatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satām-gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—सताम् गतिः इति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• śaṃkhacūḍavadham: the killing of Śaṅkhacūḍa
• śaṃkhacūḍavadham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkhacūḍa-vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—शंखचूडस्य वधः इति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• citte: in (his) mind
• citte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• niścikāya: resolved/decided
• niścikāya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√ci (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः—निश्चयम् अकरोत्

• sura-icchayā: by the wish of the gods
• sura-icchayā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura-icchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः—सुराणाम् इच्छा इति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it introduces the divine resolve (saṅkalpa) of Īśāna to remove an asuric obstruction (Śaṅkhacūḍa) for the devas’ welfare.

Significance: Frames Śiva as satāṃ gatiḥ (goal/refuge of the righteous) and duṣṭakālaḥ (doom/time for the wicked): remembrance of Īśāna is presented as protection for dharma and the turning-point toward grace for devotees.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishana
• Mahārudra
• Shankhachuda
• Devas

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as both the refuge of the righteous (satāṃ gatiḥ) and the corrective force against adharma (duṣṭakālaḥ), showing divine grace and divine justice working together to restore dharma.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Shiva—Īśāna Mahārudra—who responds to cosmic imbalance and the devas’ plea. Devotional worship of the Linga is directed to this compassionate Lord who protects devotees and removes oppressive forces.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva as “satāṃ gatiḥ” while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating surrender and trust that Shiva removes inner ‘wickedness’ (adharma) just as He removes external threats.