Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

क्रौञ्चशरणागमनम् तथा बाणासुरवधः

Krauñca Seeks Refuge; Slaying of Bāṇāsura

Devanagari script

त्वं दीनबंधुः करुणासिन्धुरानतवत्सलः । खलनिग्रहकर्ता हि शरण्यश्च सतां गतिः

Transliteration

tvaṃ dīnabaṃdhuḥ karuṇāsindhurānatavatsalaḥ | khalanigrahakartā hi śaraṇyaśca satāṃ gatiḥ

Translation

御身は弱き者の友であり帰依処、慈悲の大海にして、身を委ねて礼拝する者を常に愛で給う。まことに御身は悪を懲らしめる御方、帰依に値する御方、そして善き者の究竟の到達処である。

Word by Word

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

• दीनबन्धुः: friend/kinsman of the poor
• दीनबन्धुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीन-बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (दीनानां बन्धुः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• करुणासिन्धुः: ocean of compassion
• करुणासिन्धुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करुणा-सिन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (करुणा एव सिन्धुः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आनतवत्सलः: affectionate to the bowed (devotees)
• आनतवत्सलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आनत-वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आनतानां वत्सलः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• खलनिग्रहकर्ता: doer of restraining the wicked
• खलनिग्रहकर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल-निग्रह-कर्तृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; कर्तृ = कृ धातु से तृच्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (खलानां निग्रहस्य कर्ता), तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphasis/indeed

• शरण्यः: worthy of refuge
• शरण्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सताम्: of the good (people)
• सताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (collective), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (plural)

• गतिः: refuge/goal
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Devotees praising Lord Shiva (stuti within the Kumārakhaṇḍa narrative, as recounted by Suta Goswami)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: त्वं दीनबंधुः करुणासिन्धुरानतवत्सलः । खलनिग्रहकर्ता हि शरण्यश्च सतां गतिः

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as Pati—the compassionate Lord who responds to śaraṇāgati (surrender): he uplifts the helpless, protects the sādhus, and restrains forces that obstruct dharma, making him the final refuge (gati) for seekers of liberation.

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

The verse emphasizes accessible, grace-filled Saguna Shiva—approached through bowing, prayer, and devotion. In Linga-worship, this same Lord is invoked as śaraṇya (protector), receiving the devotee’s surrender through abhiṣeka, mantra, and stuti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice humble prostration and daily stuti to Shiva, repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a surrendering attitude; offer water or bilva to the Linga as a simple expression of devotion and refuge-seeking.