Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 2

देवशरणागति-नारदप्रेषणम् | The Devas Take Refuge in Śiva; Nārada Is Sent

Devanagari script

दुःखितास्ते सुरास्सर्वे शिवं शरणमाययुः । मनसा शंकरं देवदेवं सर्वप्रभुंप्रभुम्

Transliteration

duḥkhitāste surāssarve śivaṃ śaraṇamāyayuḥ | manasā śaṃkaraṃ devadevaṃ sarvaprabhuṃprabhum

Translation

Accablés de chagrin, tous ces Deva cherchèrent refuge en Śiva. Dans leur cœur, ils se tournèrent vers Śaṅkara — le Dieu des dieux, le Seigneur suprême, le Maître de tout.

Word by Word

• duḥkhitāḥ: distressed
• duḥkhitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkhita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √duḥkh/दुःख् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• surāḥ: gods
• surāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• śaraṇam: as refuge
• śaraṇam: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे द्वितीया (as goal)

• āyayuḥ: went/approached
• āyayuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (या)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; उपसर्ग-पूर्वक (आ-)

• manasā: with the mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• śaṃkaram: Śaṅkara
• śaṃkaram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• deva-devam: God of gods
• deva-devam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (devānāṃ devaḥ)

• sarva-prabhum: lord of all
• sarva-prabhum: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (sarveṣāṃ prabhuḥ)

• prabhum: the Lord
• prabhum: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति-बल (repetition for emphasis)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse expresses śaraṇāgati (refuge) that underlies all liṅga-sthala traditions—approaching Śiva as Devadeva for protection and restoration of cosmic order.

Significance: Models śaraṇāgati: turning to Śiva as the sole refuge is presented as the decisive spiritual act that invites anugraha (grace).

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śivaṃ śaraṇam āyayuḥ | manasā śaṅkaraṃ devadevaṃ sarvaprabhuṃ prabhum

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śaraṇāgati—turning inward with faith to Śiva as the supreme Pati (Lord) when bound beings, even the devas, are overwhelmed by suffering; it implies that liberation and protection arise through His grace when one takes refuge in Him.

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

It emphasizes approaching Śiva as Devadeva and Sarvaprabhu—Saguna Śiva who is accessible to devotion; in Purāṇic practice this inner turning is commonly expressed outwardly through Liṅga-worship, prayer, and offering, aligning the mind with Śaṅkara’s protective presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A direct takeaway is mental surrender and remembrance (mānasa-smaraṇa) of Śaṅkara—supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and, where applicable, simple Śiva-pūjā with bhakti as the core.