Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

कुमाराद्भुतचरितवर्णनम् — Description of Kumāra’s Wondrous Deeds

Devanagari script

रक्षकस्त्वं त्रिलोकस्य शरणागतवत्सलः । यज्ञकर्त्ता यज्ञभर्त्ता हरसे विघ्नकारिणाम्

Transliteration

rakṣakastvaṃ trilokasya śaraṇāgatavatsalaḥ | yajñakarttā yajñabharttā harase vighnakāriṇām

Translation

Tu es le protecteur des trois mondes, plein de tendresse pour ceux qui cherchent refuge en Toi. Tu es l’accomplisseur du yajña et le soutien du yajña ; Tu écartes et détruis les fauteurs d’obstacles.

Word by Word

• रक्षकः: protector
• रक्षकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• त्रिलोकस्य: of the three worlds
• त्रिलोकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि-लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयः लोकाः)

• शरणागतवत्सलः: affectionate to those who seek refuge
• शरणागतवत्सलः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण-आगत-वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शरणं आगतानां प्रति वत्सलः)

• यज्ञकर्त्ता: performer of the sacrifice
• यज्ञकर्त्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ-कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (यज्ञस्य कर्ता)

• यज्ञभर्त्ता: sustainer of the sacrifice
• यज्ञभर्त्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ-भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (यज्ञस्य भर्ता/पालकः)

• हरसे: you remove/destroy
• हरसे: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; (हरसि → हरसे इति पाठभेद/आर्ष-रूप)

• विघ्नकारिणाम्: of those who cause obstacles
• विघ्नकारिणाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—genitive of affected)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न-कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विघ्नं करोति इति)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the Kumārakhaṇḍa dialogue to the sages, with this verse as a devotional address to Lord Śiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: रक्षकस्त्वं त्रिलोकस्य शरणागतवत्सलः । यज्ञकर्त्ता यज्ञभर्त्ता हरसे विघ्नकारिणाम्

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as Pati—the supreme guardian of the three worlds—who especially responds to śaraṇāgati (taking refuge). From a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, surrender to Śiva’s grace is the means by which obstacles (pāśa) are removed and the soul is protected on the path to liberation.

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

The verse praises Saguna Śiva as actively present in worship: he empowers yajña and upholds its fruit. In Liṅga worship, the devotee approaches the visible symbol of the Lord as the refuge-giver and prays for the removal of vighnas that hinder mantra-japa, pūjā, and dhyāna.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin Śiva-pūjā or japa with a refuge-prayer to Śiva and then chant the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), asking him to remove obstacles to worship; offering bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and maintaining purity of intention aligns the yajña (inner and outer) with his support.