Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44

तारकवधोत्तरं देवस्तुतिः पर्वतवरप्रदानं च / Devas’ Hymn after Tāraka’s Slaying and the Bestowal of Boons upon the Mountains

Devanagari script

अकारस्सर्ववेदानां त्राता भव महेश्वर । त्वं च लोकहितार्थाय भूतानि परिषिंचसि

Transliteration

akārassarvavedānāṃ trātā bhava maheśvara | tvaṃ ca lokahitārthāya bhūtāni pariṣiṃcasi

Translation

Ô Maheśvara, sois le refuge sauveur de toute la Révélation védique dont le son primordial est « A ». Et pour le bien des mondes, tu ne cesses de nourrir tous les êtres, les soutenant par ta grâce bienveillante.

Word by Word

• akāraḥ: the syllable 'a'
• akāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• sarva-vedānām: of all the Vedas
• sarva-vedānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास 'sarve vedāḥ'; Masculine, Genitive (6th), Plural

• trātā: protector/savior
• trātā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trā (धातु) → trātṛ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Agent noun (तृन्/तारक-भाव) from √trā; Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• bhava: be (become)
• bhava: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada; 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

• maheśvara: O Maheśvara
• maheśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative (1st), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• loka-hita-arthāya: for the welfare-purpose of the world
• loka-hita-arthāya: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + hita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'lokasya hitasya arthāya' = 'for the purpose of the welfare of the world'; Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular

• bhūtāni: beings/creatures
• bhūtāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• pariṣiṃcasi: you sprinkle/anoint
• pariṣiṃcasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + sic (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada; 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (narrating/teaching within the Kumārakhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: अकारस्सर्ववेदानां त्राता भव महेश्वर । त्वं च लोकहितार्थाय भूतानि परिषिंचसि

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It praises Śiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who safeguards sacred revelation and sustains all beings by grace, emphasizing dependence of the pashu (souls) on the Lord for protection and uplift.

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

By addressing Śiva as Maheśvara who actively protects and nurtures the world, it supports Saguna worship—approaching the Lord through compassionate, sustaining presence often symbolized by the Śiva-liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Śiva as the protector of mantra and Vedic sound, and practice japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with the intent of seeking his grace for the welfare of all beings.