Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

आहूय स महादेवो भक्तानां सर्वकामदः । नारदं प्रेरयामास देवकार्यचिकीर्षया

Transliteration

āhūya sa mahādevo bhaktānāṃ sarvakāmadaḥ | nāradaṃ prerayāmāsa devakāryacikīrṣayā

Translation

Mahādeva, qui accorde à Ses dévots tout désir légitime, fit venir Nārada et le chargea d’une mission, voulant accomplir l’œuvre des dieux.

Word by Word

• आहूय: having summoned
• आहूय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ह्वे (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: आह्वे/आह्वा (आ-ह्वे), अर्थ: ‘आहूय’ = having called/summoned

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक: महा + देव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समास: कर्मधारय (महान् देवः)

• भक्तानाम्: of the devotees
• भक्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• सर्वकामदः: giver of all desires
• सर्वकामदः: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वकामद (प्रातिपदिक: सर्व + काम + द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण; समास: तत्पुरुष (सर्वान् कामान् ददाति इति)

• नारदम्: Nārada
• नारदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रेरयामास: sent/urged
• प्रेरयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-ईर्/ईरय् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense (णिच्): ‘प्रेरयामास’ = caused to go/urged/sent

• देवकार्यचिकीर्षया: with the intention of accomplishing the gods’ task
• देवकार्यचिकीर्षया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवकार्यचिकीर्षा (प्रातिपदिक: देव + कार्य + चिकीर्षा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ तृतीया (instrumental of purpose); समास: तत्पुरुष (देवानां कार्यं कर्तुम् इच्छया)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes Śiva as sarvakāmada to bhaktas; pilgrimage ethos: approach with devotion and receive both worldly and spiritual fulfillments under divine governance.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Narada
• Devas

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as the compassionate Pati (Lord) who responds to bhakti and orchestrates events for dharma—granting devotees’ aims while also directing cosmic duties through His instruments like Nārada.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—Mahādeva who acts, commands, and bestows boons. Linga-worship similarly approaches Him as the accessible Lord who can be invoked and who intervenes to uphold divine order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is devotional invocation: daily remembrance and japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a bhakti-intent, seeking Śiva’s guidance for righteous duties (deva-kārya) and inner purification.