Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26

शिवविहारवर्णनम् (Śivavihāra-varṇana) — “Description of Śiva’s Divine Pastimes/Sojourn”

Devanagari script

महेशशरणापन्ना ये जना मनसा मुदा । तेषां प्रजेशभक्तानां न कुतश्चिद्भयं क्वचित्

Transliteration

maheśaśaraṇāpannā ye janā manasā mudā | teṣāṃ prajeśabhaktānāṃ na kutaścidbhayaṃ kvacit

Translation

Ceux qui, le cœur joyeux, ont pris refuge en Maheśa—le Grand Seigneur—, ces dévots ne sont jamais effleurés par la peur, d’aucun côté et en aucun temps.

Word by Word

• maheśa-śaraṇa-āpannāḥ: those who have taken refuge in Maheśa
• maheśa-śaraṇa-āpannāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maheśa (प्रातिपदिक) + śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āpanna (कृदन्त; √āp/āp- ‘to reach’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमासः (महेशस्य शरणम्) + कृदन्त-विशेषणम् ‘āpanna’ (भूतकृदन्त/क्त)

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-यत्-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• janāḥ: people
• janāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• manasā: with the mind
• manasā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• mudā: with joy
• mudā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• prajeśa-bhaktānām: of the devotees of Prajeśa
• prajeśa-bhaktānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajeśa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्रयुक्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रजेशस्य भक्ताः)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• kutaścit: from anywhere / for any reason
• kutaścit: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Source-context adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kutaścit (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनिश्चित-देश/कारणवाचक (indefinite: from anywhere/for any reason)

• bhayam: fear
• bhayam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• kvacit: anywhere / ever
• kvacit: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनिश्चित-देशवाचक (indefinite adverb: anywhere/ever)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Assures fearlessness (abhaya) and protection for those who take Śiva’s refuge; aligns with pilgrimage ethos of seeking kṣema at Śiva-kṣetras.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: maheśaśaraṇāpannā ye janā manasā mudā | teṣāṃ prajeśabhaktānāṃ na kutaścidbhayaṃ kvacit

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Mahesha/Prajesha)

FAQs

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

It teaches śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) in Mahesha: when the heart rests in Shiva with glad devotion, fear—rooted in bondage (pāśa) and ego—loses its power, because the devotee relies on Pati (the Lord) rather than the unstable world.

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

Refuge in Mahesha is practically expressed through Saguna worship—reverence to the Śiva-liṅga, pūjā, and remembrance—by which the mind becomes steady and protected; through such devotion the devotee is led toward the higher realization of Shiva beyond fear.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate joyful inner surrender while doing japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and regular liṅga-pūjā; this verse emphasizes the bhāva (devotional state) that makes the practice fear-dissolving and protective.