Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras

Devanagari script

देवदेव महादेव करुणासागर प्रभो । यदर्थमागतावावां तच्छृणु त्वं सुरर्षिभिः

Transliteration

devadeva mahādeva karuṇāsāgara prabho | yadarthamāgatāvāvāṃ tacchṛṇu tvaṃ surarṣibhiḥ

Translation

Ô Dieu des dieux, ô Mahādeva, ô Seigneur, océan de compassion : daigne écouter, en présence des Devas et des rishis voyants, le but pour lequel nous sommes venus ici.

Word by Word

• देवदेव: O god of gods
• देवदेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (देवः देवः इति)

• महादेव: O Mahādeva
• महादेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् देवः)

• करुणासागर: O ocean of compassion
• करुणासागर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करुणा + सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (करुणायाः सागरः)

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• यत्: which (thing)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-निर्देशक सर्वनाम

• अर्थम्: purpose
• अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक

• आगतौ: (we two) having come
• आगतौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु) → आगत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकालिक कृदन्त (क्त), प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘आगतौ’ = ‘we two have come’ (elliptic copula)

• आवाम्: we two
• आवाम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st) द्विवचन (वैकल्पिक रूप; ‘आवाम्’), वक्तृ-समूह

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; अन्वादेश

• शृणु: hear
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सुरर्षिभिः: by/with the gods and sages
• सुरर्षिभिः: Sahakari/Instrument (करण/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (सुराः च ऋषयः च)

Speaker

Brahmā (addressing Lord Śiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: devadeva mahādeva karuṇāsāgara prabho

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Devas
• Rishis

FAQs

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

The verse models śaraṇāgati (humble approach) to Pati, Śiva—addressing Him as the compassionate Lord and requesting attentive listening, indicating that divine grace responds to sincere, reverent petition.

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

By invoking Mahādeva with personal epithets like “ocean of compassion,” the verse emphasizes Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva as the accessible Lord who hears prayers, a core mood behind Liṅga worship and temple supplication.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is prayerful invocation before worship—beginning Liṅga-pūjā with respectful address (e.g., mentally repeating the pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offering one’s intention with humility.