Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

क्रौञ्चशरणागमनम् तथा बाणासुरवधः

Krauñca Seeks Refuge; Slaying of Bāṇāsura

Devanagari script

सोऽथ शेषस्य तनयः कुमुदोऽहिपतेर्महान् । कुमारशरणं प्राप्तस्तुष्टाव गिरिजात्मजम्

Transliteration

so'tha śeṣasya tanayaḥ kumudo'hipatermahān | kumāraśaraṇaṃ prāptastuṣṭāva girijātmajam

Translation

Alors Kumuda, l’illustre fils de Śeṣa—le grand seigneur des serpents—s’approcha de Kumāra pour y chercher refuge et, avec dévotion, loua le divin fils de Girijā (Skanda).

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequencing particle)

• śeṣasya: of Śeṣa
• śeṣasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• tanayaḥ: son
• tanayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• kumudaḥ: Kumuda
• kumudaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumuda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ahi-pateḥ: of the lord of serpents
• ahi-pateḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahi (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha; aher patiḥ), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• mahān: great
• mahān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• kumāra-śaraṇam: refuge of Kumāra
• kumāra-śaraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra (प्रातिपदिक) + śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha; kumārasya śaraṇam), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• prāptaḥ: having attained/reached
• prāptaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāpta (कृदन्त; √āp धातु with pra-)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• tuṣṭāva: praised
• tuṣṭāva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: stu (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• girijā-ātmajam: son of Girijā (Pārvatī)
• girijā-ātmajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: girijā (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha; girijāyāḥ ātmajaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kumārakhaṇḍa account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shesha
• Kumuda
• Skanda (Kumara)
• Parvati (Girija)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) and stuti (praise) as core bhakti-acts: the devotee approaches a divine power aligned with Śiva’s will (Kumāra/Skanda) and, through humility and devotion, becomes fit for grace and protection.

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

Skanda is a saguna manifestation within Śiva’s sacred household and mission; honoring Girijā’s son is a way of honoring Śiva’s divine order. Such devotion complements Liṅga-worship by directing the mind toward Śiva’s tangible, grace-bearing forms and attendants.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform stuti and śaraṇāgati: recite Skanda/Śiva praises, repeat a Śaiva mantra such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and cultivate inner surrender before beginning worship (with bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa if one follows those disciplines).