Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 55

विष्णोः स्तुतिः—शिवसतीरक्षावचनम्

Viṣṇu’s Hymn and the Petition for Śiva–Satī’s Protection

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्निहते शम्भो कस्त्वत्कर्म करिष्यति । तस्मान्न वध्यो भवता सृष्टिकृल्लयकृद्विभो

Transliteration

etasminnihate śambho kastvatkarma kariṣyati | tasmānna vadhyo bhavatā sṛṣṭikṛllayakṛdvibho

Translation

O Śambhu, if this one is slain, who will carry out Your cosmic function? Therefore he should not be killed by You, O all-pervading Lord—for he is the agent of creation and dissolution.

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this (case/when this one)
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• निहते: when (he) is slain
• निहते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निहत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √हन् with नि-)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त; सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (locative absolute with एतस्मिन्)

• शम्भो: O Śambhu
• शम्भो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• त्वत्-कर्म: your task/work
• त्वत्-कर्म: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (your work)

• करिष्यति: will do
• करिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तस्मात्: therefore / from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause; from that)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• वध्यः: fit to be killed
• वध्यः: Vidhaya (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective: 'to be slain')

• भवता: by you
• भवता: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण/Agent in implied passive: by you)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; आदरार्थक-सर्वनाम (honorific 'you')

• सृष्टिकृत्: creator
• सृष्टिकृत्: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि-कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सृष्टेः कर्ता = maker of creation)

• लयकृत्: destroyer (causer of dissolution)
• लयकृत्: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लय-कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लयस्य कर्ता = maker of dissolution)

• विभो: O all-pervading one
• विभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that even when Śiva is supreme (Pati), He upholds dharma by preserving the cosmic order—restraining wrath when the world’s functioning requires appointed agents for creation and dissolution.

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

It highlights Saguna Śiva as the compassionate Lord who governs the universe through order and grace; Linga-worship emphasizes this sovereign yet self-restrained divinity who sustains harmony among cosmic roles.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a vow of ahiṃsā and self-control, offering bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) as a reminder to dissolve anger and uphold dharma.