Shloka 3

एकादशरुद्रावतारकथनम् / Account of the Eleven Rudra Manifestations

Rudrāvatāras

Devanagari script

दैत्यप्रपीडिता देवा जग्मुस्ते कश्यपा न्तिकम् । बद्ध्वा करान्नतस्कन्धाः प्रणेमुस्तं सुविह्वलम्

Transliteration

daityaprapīḍitā devā jagmuste kaśyapā ntikam | baddhvā karānnataskandhāḥ praṇemustaṃ suvihvalam

Translation

Tormented by the demons, the gods went to Kaśyapa. With their hands joined and their shoulders bowed in humility, they prostrated before him, overwhelmed and distressed.

Word by Word

• daitya-prapīḍitāḥ: oppressed by demons
• daitya-prapīḍitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक) + pra-pīḍita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषभावः ‘दैत्यैः प्रपीडिताः’ (oppressed by demons)

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• jagmuḥ: went
• jagmuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• kaśyapa-antikam: to the vicinity of Kaśyapa
• kaśyapa-antikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaśyapa (प्रातिपदिक) + antika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘कश्यपस्य अन्तिकम्’

• baddhvā: having bound/joined
• baddhvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bandh (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• karān: hands
• karān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• nata-skandhāḥ: with bowed shoulders
• nata-skandhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + skandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारयः ‘नताः स्कन्धाः येषाम्’ (with bowed shoulders)

• praṇemuḥ: bowed down
• praṇemuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-nam (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• tam: to him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• su-vihvalam: greatly distressed
• su-vihvalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + vihvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘सु’ = अत्यर्थक (intensifier)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Kashyapa
• Devas
• Daityas

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): when afflicted by hostile forces, even the devas turn to a higher spiritual authority with humility—an inner model for approaching Pati (Śiva) through reverence and surrender rather than ego.

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

The mood of bowed shoulders and joined hands reflects the devotional posture used in Saguna worship—approaching the Lord (often through the Śiva-liṅga) as the compassionate Protector who removes pīḍā (affliction) when the devotee seeks refuge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a posture of namaskāra and inward humility, then pray for protection with the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a refuge-mantra, especially during distress.