Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41

कार्त्तिकेयान्वेषण-नन्दिसंवाद-वर्णनम्

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Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा तान् कृत्तिकास्सर्वा भयविह्नलमानसाः । कार्त्तिकं कथयामासुर्ज्वलंतं ब्रह्मतेजसा

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā tān kṛttikāssarvā bhayavihnalamānasāḥ | kārttikaṃ kathayāmāsurjvalaṃtaṃ brahmatejasā

Translation

Seeing them, all the Kṛttikās, their minds shaken with fear and awe, began to speak of Kārttika, who was blazing with the splendor of Brahman (divine radiance).

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having seen)

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• कृत्तिकाः: the Kṛttikās
• कृत्तिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन; ‘कृत्तिकाः’ इति विशेषण

• भयविह्नलमानसाः: with minds bewildered by fear
• भयविह्नलमानसाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + विह्नल (प्रातिपदिक) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—भयेन विह्नलं मानसं येषां ताः (whose minds are bewildered by fear)

• कार्त्तिकम्: Kārttika (Skanda)
• कार्त्तिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्त्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• कथयामासुः: they told/informed
• कथयामासुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु, णिच्)
• Form: लिट् लकार (Perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; णिजन्त (causative) धातु—कथयति (to tell)

• ज्वलन्तम्: blazing, shining
• ज्वलन्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle, शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; ‘कार्त्तिकम्’ इति विशेषण

• ब्रह्मतेजसा: by Brahma-like divine radiance
• ब्रह्मतेजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; समासः—ब्रह्मणः तेजः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; करणार्थे (instrumental of means)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Kṛttikās
• Kārttikeya (Kārttika/Skanda)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the overwhelming presence of divine tejas (spiritual splendor): when the soul encounters a manifestation empowered by Śiva’s will, ordinary perception is shaken, and reverence mixed with fear arises—signaling the need for humility and surrender before the sacred.

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

Kārttikeya’s blazing tejas reflects Saguna revelation—divinity made perceivable. In Shaiva practice, the Liṅga similarly makes Śiva approachable in form, while still pointing beyond form to the supreme reality (Pati) whose power is experienced as tejas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on divine light (tejas) with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating steadiness when confronted by awe-inspiring sacred experiences; it supports devotion (bhakti) and inner composure.