Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4

देवपराजयः — शङ्करशरणागमनं स्कन्दकालीयुद्धं च | Devas’ Defeat, Refuge in Śaṅkara, and the Battle of Skanda and Kālī

Devanagari script

निरीक्ष्य स कृपादृष्ट्या देवेभ्यश्चाभयं ददौ । बलं च स्वगणानां वै वर्द्धयामास तेजसा

Transliteration

nirīkṣya sa kṛpādṛṣṭyā devebhyaścābhayaṃ dadau | balaṃ ca svagaṇānāṃ vai varddhayāmāsa tejasā

Translation

Al contemplarlos con mirada compasiva, otorgó a los Devas el don de la intrepidez (abhaya). Y con su propio tejas, su fulgor espiritual, acrecentó la fuerza de sus huestes de gaṇas, sus asistentes.

Word by Word

• nirīkṣya: having observed
• nirīkṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir + īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभाव (having looked/after observing)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• kṛpā-dṛṣṭyā: with a compassionate glance
• kṛpā-dṛṣṭyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक) + dṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कृपायाः दृष्टिः)

• devebhyaḥ: to the gods
• devebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• abhayam: fearlessness/assurance
• abhayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• balam: strength
• balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• sva-gaṇānām: of his own attendants/troops
• sva-gaṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य गणाः)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/पादपूरण (indeed, emphatic particle)

• varddhayāmāsa: increased
• varddhayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛdh (धातु) + ṇic (causative)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative: caused to increase)

• tejasā: by (his) splendor/power
• tejasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Shiva
• Shiva's Ganas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s anugraha (grace): his compassionate regard dispels fear (abhaya) and awakens inner strength (tejas). In Shaiva Siddhanta, this points to the Lord as Pati who protects devotees and empowers the divine order when it is threatened.

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

It reflects Saguna Shiva’s accessible, personal compassion—one may approach the Linga seeking abhaya and steadiness of mind. The Linga worship trains the devotee to receive Shiva’s grace, which removes fear and strengthens dharma-oriented resolve.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while meditating on Shiva’s kṛpā-dṛṣṭi (gracious gaze), along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) application as a reminder of fearlessness and reliance on Shiva’s protecting tejas.