Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3

कार्त्तिकेयान्वेषण-नन्दिसंवाद-वर्णनम्

Search for Kārttikeya and the Nandī Dialogue

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्नवसरे दुर्गा स्मेराननसरोरुहा । उवाच स्वामिनं शंभुं देवदेवेश्वरं प्रभुम्

Transliteration

tasminnavasare durgā smerānanasaroruhā | uvāca svāminaṃ śaṃbhuṃ devadeveśvaraṃ prabhum

Translation

En cet instant, la Déesse Durgā—au visage de lotus souriant—s’adressa à son Seigneur Śambhu, le Maître suprême, le Dieu des dieux, le Souverain Seigneur.

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: at that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अवसरे: occasion/time
• अवसरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avasara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• दुर्गा: Durgā
• दुर्गा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्मेर-आनन-सरोरुहा: whose smiling face is like a lotus
• स्मेर-आनन-सरोरुहा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smera (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक) + saroruha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिः (she whose face is a smiling lotus): स्मेरम् आननम् सरोरुहम् इव यस्याः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘दुर्गा’ इति विशेषणम्

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• स्वामिनम्: to the lord/master
• स्वामिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शम्भुम्: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• देवदेवेश्वरम्: Lord of the god of gods / supreme lord
• देवदेवेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): देवानां देवस्य ईश्वरः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘शम्भुम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• प्रभुम्: the master
• प्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘शम्भुम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Durgā (Pārvatī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Durga
• Shambhu

FAQs

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

The verse establishes the devotional mood (bhakti) and reverence with which the Devī approaches Śiva, affirming Him as Devadeveśvara (Lord of all gods) and Prabhu (Supreme). It frames their dialogue as sacred instruction arising from loving, enlightened devotion.

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

By addressing Śiva as Śambhu and Devadeveśvara, the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching the Supreme through a gracious, name-and-form aspect. In Śaiva practice, this reverence naturally extends to Liṅga-upāsanā as the accessible, sanctified emblem of Śiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-smaraṇa and reverential prayer: contemplate Śiva as “Śambhu, Devadeveśvara, Prabhu,” and recite the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a gentle, devotional mind, as exemplified by the Devī’s respectful address.