Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

शिवस्तुतिवर्णनम् (Śiva-stuti-varṇanam) — “Description of Hymns in Praise of Śiva”

Devanagari script

संत्यक्तसर्वधर्मांश्च बोद्धागमसमाश्रिताः । अस्मद्भाग्यवशाज्जाता दैत्यास्ते भक्तवत्सल

Transliteration

saṃtyaktasarvadharmāṃśca boddhāgamasamāśritāḥ | asmadbhāgyavaśājjātā daityāste bhaktavatsala

Translation

„Nachdem sie alle (vedischen) Pflichten aufgegeben und Zuflucht bei den Lehren der Buddhisten gesucht hatten, wurden jene Daityas durch die Macht unseres eigenen Unglücks geboren — o Du, der Du die Bhaktas stets liebevoll behütest.“

Word by Word

• संत्यक्त: having abandoned
• संत्यक्त: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√त्यज् (धातु) → संत्यक्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; ‘having abandoned’

• सर्वधर्मान्: all dharmas/duties
• सर्वधर्मान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural (object of ‘abandoned’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय; conjunction

• बौद्धागमसमाश्रिताः: having taken refuge in the Buddhist doctrine
• बौद्धागमसमाश्रिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बौद्ध-आगम-सम्-आश्रित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (बौद्धस्य आगमः) + तं समाश्रिताः; ‘having resorted to the Buddhist doctrine’

• अस्मद्भाग्यवशात्: due to our good fortune
• अस्मद्भाग्यवशात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अस्मद्-भाग्य-वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-अर्थे तसिल्/अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग; Ablative sense ‘due to/through’; (अस्माकं भाग्यस्य वशः) ‘by the force of our fortune’

• जाताः: born/arisen
• जाताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘born/arisen’

• दैत्याः: demons (Daityas)
• दैत्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Pronoun nominative plural

• भक्तवत्सल: O lover of devotees
• भक्तवत्सल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त-वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative; ‘affectionate to devotees’

Speaker

A Deva (god) addressing Lord Shiva during the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narration (as relayed by Sūta Gosvāmin)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a jyotirliṅga; it is a polemical-narrative explanation: daityas abandon Vedic dharma and take refuge in ‘boddhāgama’, presented as a misfortune and as part of the concealment dynamic preceding Śiva’s intervention.

Significance: Positions Śiva as bhakta-vatsala who rescues devotees from doctrinal confusion; pilgrimage is framed as returning to Śiva-dharma and seeking anugraha to overcome pāśa (delusive systems).

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daityas

FAQs

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

The verse frames spiritual decline as abandoning dharma and losing right orientation, while simultaneously highlighting Shiva’s defining grace as bhakta-vatsala—one who responds to sincere refuge and protects devotees amid cosmic disorder.

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

By addressing Shiva as bhakta-vatsala, it emphasizes Saguna Shiva’s accessible, compassionate aspect—approached through devotion and refuge. In Shiva Purana practice, this devotion is commonly expressed through Linga-worship, where the devotee seeks Shiva’s protection and restoration of dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) through bhakti—practically expressed as daily Linga-pūjā with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa, and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” seeking Shiva’s grace as protector of devotees.