Shloka 14

एकादशरुद्रावतारकथनम् / Account of the Eleven Rudra Manifestations

Rudrāvatāras

Devanagari script

बलनिग्रह कर्ता त्वं महेश्वर सतां गतिः । दीनबन्धुर्दयासिन्धुर्भक्तरक्षणदक्षधीः

Transliteration

balanigraha kartā tvaṃ maheśvara satāṃ gatiḥ | dīnabandhurdayāsindhurbhaktarakṣaṇadakṣadhīḥ

Translation

O Maheśvara, du bist der Zügler aller Kräfte; du bist Zuflucht und letztes Ziel der Frommen. Du bist der Verwandte der Bedrängten, ein Ozean des Erbarmens, und von unfehlbarer Weisheit im Schutz deiner Bhaktas.

Word by Word

• बलनिग्रहकर्ता: restrainer of strength (of the strong)
• बलनिग्रहकर्ता: विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + निग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (बलस्य निग्रहः; तस्य कर्ता), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• महेश्वर: O Maheśvara
• महेश्वर: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• सताम्: of the good / of the virtuous
• सताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• गतिः: refuge / goal
• गतिः: विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दीनबन्धुः: friend of the poor
• दीनबन्धुः: विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (दीनानां बन्धुः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दयासिन्धुः: ocean of compassion
• दयासिन्धुः: विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक) + सिन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (दयायाः सिन्धुः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भक्तरक्षणदक्षधीः: whose intellect is skilled in protecting devotees
• भक्तरक्षणदक्षधीः: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: भक्त-रक्षणे दक्षः धीः यस्य सः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana to the sages, presenting a devotee’s praise of Lord Shiva in Śatarudrasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: बलनिग्रह कर्ता त्वं महेश्वर सतां गतिः । दीनबन्धुर्दयासिन्धुर्भक्तरक्षणदक्षधीः

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Maheśvara)

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as Pati—the compassionate Lord who restrains destructive forces, becomes the refuge of the virtuous, and grants protection through grace, aligning with the Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on divine anugraha (saving grace).

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

The verse praises Saguna Shiva—Maheśvara with accessible qualities like compassion and protection—supporting Linga worship as a concrete focus for surrender, devotion, and receiving the Lord’s safeguarding presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is bhakti-centered japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a protective surrender (śaraṇāgati), ideally alongside simple Shiva upacharas such as vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of devotion.