Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

क्रौञ्चशरणागमनम् तथा बाणासुरवधः

Krauñca Seeks Refuge; Slaying of Bāṇāsura

Devanagari script

तच्छुत्वा स्वामिवचनं मुदितो गिरिराट् तदा । स्तुत्वा गुहं तदारातिं स्वधाम प्रत्यपद्यत

Transliteration

tacchutvā svāmivacanaṃ mudito girirāṭ tadā | stutvā guhaṃ tadārātiṃ svadhāma pratyapadyata

Translation

Hearing his Lord’s words, the king of mountains became joyful. Then, having praised Guha—the destroyer of the foe—he returned to his own abode.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (object of hearing; with absolutive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचन नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘वचनम्’ इत्यर्थे (that)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रुत्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having heard’

• स्वामिवचनम्: the master’s words
• स्वामिवचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामि + वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): स्वामिनः वचनम्; द्वितीया एकवचन नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• मुदितः: gladdened
• मुदितः: विशेषण (adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुदित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा एकवचन पुल्लिङ्ग; ‘गिरिराट्’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• गिरिराट्: the king of mountains (Himālaya)
• गिरिराट्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि + राज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव): गिरिणां राजा; प्रथमा एकवचन पुल्लिङ्ग

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• स्तुत्वा: having praised
• स्तुत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु) → स्तुत्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive): ‘having praised’

• गुहम्: Guha (Kumāra)
• गुहम्: कर्म (object of praising)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचन पुल्लिङ्ग; कुमारस्य नाम (Skanda)

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• अरातिम्: hostility, enmity
• अरातिम्: कर्म (object; what is abandoned/left behind—contextual)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अराति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया एकवचन स्त्रीलिङ्ग; ‘अराति’ = शत्रुता/वैर (enmity/hostility)

• स्वधाम: to his own abode
• स्वधाम: कर्म (goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + धाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): स्वस्य धाम; द्वितीया एकवचन नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• प्रत्यपद्यत: returned, went back
• प्रत्यपद्यत: क्रिया (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + पद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; उपसर्गः ‘प्रति’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The mountain-king’s praise of Guha and return indicates restoration of dharma in the region; it prefaces the sanctification of the site through liṅga installation.

Significance: Models the devotee’s response: hearing the Lord’s assurance → stuti → return to one’s dharma; establishes ‘stuti’ as a means to receive grace (anugraha).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Guha
• Kartikeya
• Himalaya

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati (obedient surrender) and stuti (praise) as bhakti-actions that align the devotee with the Lord’s will; joy arises when one accepts the divine command and honors Shiva’s grace-manifest forms like Guha.

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

Though the verse names Guha, the devotional act of praising him functions within Saguna worship—honoring Shiva’s accessible manifestations and family-deities—supporting the same Shaiva aim of receiving Shiva’s anugraha (grace) that Linga worship also seeks.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is stotra-japa (recitation of hymns/names) to Guha/Skanda with a surrendered mind; as a Shaiva complement, one may pair it with Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offer vibhūti (bhasma) as a sign of devotion.