Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16
कुमाराद्भुतचरितवर्णनम् — Description of Kumāra’s Wondrous Deeds
हे सर्वेश्वर भक्तवत्सल कृपासिन्धो त्वदीयोऽस्म्यहं भृत्यस्स्वस्य न सेवकस्य गणपस्याऽऽ गश्शतं सत्प्रभो । भक्तिं क्वापि कृतां मनागपि विभो जानासि भृत्यार्तिहा । त्वत्तो नास्त्यपरोऽविता न भगवन् मत्तो नरः पामरः
he sarveśvara bhaktavatsala kṛpāsindho tvadīyo'smyahaṃ bhṛtyassvasya na sevakasya gaṇapasyā'' gaśśataṃ satprabho | bhaktiṃ kvāpi kṛtāṃ manāgapi vibho jānāsi bhṛtyārtihā | tvatto nāstyaparo'vitā na bhagavan matto naraḥ pāmaraḥ
O Lord of all, tender to devotees, ocean of compassion! I am Yours alone—Your dependent servant, not a hired attendant. O noble Lord, even if the leader of Your gaṇas has committed hundreds of offenses, You, O mighty One who removes the distress of servants, still know even the slightest bhakti done anywhere. Apart from You there is no other protector, O Bhagavān; and no man is more fallen and unworthy than I.
Ganesha
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Mantra: हे सर्वेश्वर भक्तवत्सल कृपासिन्धो त्वदीयोऽस्म्यहं भृत्यस्स्वस्य न सेवकस्य गणपस्याऽऽ गश्शतं सत्प्रभो । भक्तिं क्वापि कृतां मनागपि विभो जानासि भृत्यार्तिहा । त्वत्तो नास्त्यपरोऽविता न भगवन् मत्तो नरः पामरः
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
The verse teaches śaraṇāgati (complete surrender): Shiva, the Pati (supreme Lord), recognizes even the smallest act of devotion and alone can remove the devotee’s suffering and impurity; humility and reliance on Shiva’s grace are central.
It emphasizes Saguna Shiva as the compassionate, personal Protector who responds to bhakti. Linga-worship is thus framed not as mere ritual, but as heartfelt surrender to Shiva’s accessible form that grants protection and liberation.
Practice daily Shiva-bhakti with humility—offer water and bilva to the Linga, chant the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and mentally confess faults while taking refuge in Shiva as the sole protector.