Shloka 30

एकादशरुद्रावतारकथनम् / Account of the Eleven Rudra Manifestations

Rudrāvatāras

Devanagari script

अद्यापि ते महारुद्रास्सर्वे शिवस्वरूपकाः । देवानां रक्षणार्थाय विराजन्ते सदा दिवि

Transliteration

adyāpi te mahārudrāssarve śivasvarūpakāḥ | devānāṃ rakṣaṇārthāya virājante sadā divi

Translation

Even now, those Great Rudras—all embodying the very form of Śiva—ever shine in heaven, for the purpose of protecting the gods.

Word by Word

• adya: today/now
• adya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• te: they/those
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mahā-rudrāḥ: great Rudras
• mahā-rudrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (पूर्वपद) + rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying ‘mahā-rudrāḥ’

• śiva-svarūpakāḥ: of Śiva-nature/Śiva-formed
• śiva-svarūpakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + svarūpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘having the form/nature of Śiva’; qualifying ‘mahā-rudrāḥ’

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• rakṣaṇa-arthāya: for the protection
• rakṣaṇa-arthāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान; purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); purpose dative (प्रयोजन-चतुर्थी)

• virājante: they shine/are resplendent
• virājante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√rāj (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); ātmanepada

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (नित्यत्ववाचक अव्यय)

• divi: in heaven
• divi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: div (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudras
• Devas

FAQs

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

It affirms that the many Rudras are not separate powers but Śiva’s own manifestations, continually sustaining dharma by protecting the divine order—showing Śiva as Pati (the sovereign Lord) who upholds the cosmos through his forms.

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

By describing the Rudras as śiva-svarūpa, the verse supports Saguna worship: devotees may approach Śiva through manifested forms and symbols like the Śiva-liṅga, recognizing them as gateways to the one Lord’s presence and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Rudra-japa and Śiva-smaraṇa—chanting the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) or Rudra names while offering bilva and applying tripuṇḍra-bhasma, cultivating trust in Śiva’s protective grace.