Shloka 16

एकादशरुद्रावतारकथनम् / Account of the Eleven Rudra Manifestations

Rudrāvatāras

Devanagari script

असमर्थो रमेशोपि दुःखदस्ते मुहुर्मुहुः । अतः सुरा मच्छरणा वेदयन्तोऽसुखं च तत्

Transliteration

asamartho rameśopi duḥkhadaste muhurmuhuḥ | ataḥ surā maccharaṇā vedayanto'sukhaṃ ca tat

Translation

Selbst Rameśa (Viṣṇu), obgleich ein Herr, ist in dieser Sache machtlos und wird immer wieder zum Spender von Leid. Darum, o Götter, nehmt Zuflucht bei Mir; durch Meine Gnade werdet ihr jenes Leid selbst und auch sein Heilmittel erkennen.

Word by Word

• असमर्थः: incapable
• असमर्थः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-प्रत्यय (negation)

• रमेशः: Rameśa (Viṣṇu)
• रमेशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रमेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक निपात (also/even)

• दुःखदः: giver of suffering
• दुःखदः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःखद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-रूप (your)

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• मुहुः: repeatedly
• मुहुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति (reduplication) for emphasis; क्रियाविशेषण

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Logical connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक अव्यय (therefore/from this)

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• मत्-शरणाः: having me as refuge
• मत्-शरणाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मत्’ = मम (of me)

• वेदयन्तः: reporting / making known
• वेदयन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, participial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद् (धातु) → वेदयत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, शतृ/Present active participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle)

• असुखम्: misery
• असुखम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नञ्-प्रत्यय (negation)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (and)

• तत्: that (situation)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-रूप

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) in Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who alone transcends the causes of duḥkha and grants true peace through grace.

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

By directing the gods to seek Shiva’s shelter, the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching Shiva in a knowable form (such as the Linga) to receive protection, clarity, and liberation-bestowing grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice śaraṇāgati through daily Shiva-japa (especially “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with simple Linga-pūjā, cultivating humility and reliance on Shiva’s grace to overcome suffering.