Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12
कुमाराद्भुतचरितवर्णनम् — Description of Kumāra’s Wondrous Deeds
भक्तप्राणगुणाकरस्त्रिगुणतो भिन्नोसि शंभुप्रियः शंभुः शंभुसुतः प्रसन्नसुखदस्सच्चित्स्वरूपो महान् । सर्वज्ञस्त्रिपुरघ्नशंकरसुतः सत्प्रेमवश्यस्सदा षड्वक्त्रः प्रियसाधुरानतप्रियस्सर्वेश्वर श्शंकरः । साधुद्रोहकरघ्न शंकरगुरो ब्रह्मांडनाथो प्रभुः सर्वेषाममरादिसेवितपदो मां पाहि सेवाप्रिय
bhaktaprāṇaguṇākarastriguṇato bhinnosi śaṃbhupriyaḥ śaṃbhuḥ śaṃbhusutaḥ prasannasukhadassaccitsvarūpo mahān | sarvajñastripuraghnaśaṃkarasutaḥ satpremavaśyassadā ṣaḍvaktraḥ priyasādhurānatapriyassarveśvara śśaṃkaraḥ | sādhudrohakaraghna śaṃkaraguro brahmāṃḍanātho prabhuḥ sarveṣāmamarādisevitapado māṃ pāhi sevāpriya
O beloved of Śambhu, ocean of virtues and very life of Your devotees! Though You transcend the three guṇas, You graciously appear as Śiva’s own son, bestowing joy upon the contented. You are the Great One whose nature is pure Sat-Cit—Being and Consciousness; all-knowing, slayer of Tripura, son of Śaṅkara, ever won by true love; six-faced, dear to the virtuous and pleased by those who bow in reverence; Lord of all—O Śaṅkara. Destroyer of those who harm the saints, revered teacher in Śaṅkara’s lineage, sovereign of the cosmos, whose feet are served by the devas and all immortals—protect me, O Lover of service and devotion.
Devotee (stuti) addressing Lord Kārttikeya/Skanda in the Kumārakhaṇḍa narration (as related by Sūta to the sages)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Mantra: भक्तप्राणगुणाकरस्त्रिगुणतो भिन्नोसि शंभुप्रियः शंभुः शंभुसुतः प्रसन्नसुखदस्सच्चित्स्वरूपो महान् । सर्वज्ञस्त्रिपुरघ्नशंकरसुतः सत्प्रेमवश्यस्सदा षड्वक्त्रः प्रियसाधुरानतप्रियस्सर्वेश्वर श्शंकरः । साधुद्रोहकरघ्न शंकरगुरो ब्रह्मांडनाथो प्रभुः सर्वेषाममरादिसेवितपदो मां पाहि सेवाप्रिय
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It praises the Lord (Skanda as Śiva’s son) as triguṇātīta (beyond the guṇas) yet compassionately accessible to devotees, teaching that sincere bhakti and humble service draw divine grace and protection.
Although it highlights transcendence (nirguṇa, beyond the guṇas), it worships the Lord through names, forms, and deeds (saguṇa)—a key Purāṇic method where devotion to Śiva and His divine manifestations leads the soul toward liberation.
The verse emphasizes sevā (devotional service), namaskāra (bowing), and stuti (praise); a practical takeaway is daily japa with a Śaiva mantra (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) alongside respectful worship and service to saints and devotees.