Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा स तु देवर्षिर्नारदो लोकविश्रुतः । ययौ विहायसा देवोपकारकरणोद्यतः

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | ityuktvā sa tu devarṣirnārado lokaviśrutaḥ | yayau vihāyasā devopakārakaraṇodyataḥ

Translation

サナトクマーラは言った。かく語り終えると、諸世界に名高き天の聖仙ナーラダは、神々の益となることを成さんと志し、虚空を翔けて去って行った。

Word by Word

• sanat-kumāraḥ: Sanatkumāra
• sanat-kumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanat (प्रातिपदिक) + kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) Singular; कर्मधारयसमासः—sanat kumāraḥ (ever-young Kumāra)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotative particle (इति-प्रयोगः)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta; Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय); having spoken

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) Singular; pronoun

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (विरोध/अन्वय)

• deva-ṛṣiḥ: the divine sage
• deva-ṛṣiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) Singular; तत्पुरुषसमासः—devānāṃ ṛṣiḥ / devaḥ ṛṣiḥ (divine sage)

• nāradaḥ: Nārada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) Singular

• loka-viśrutaḥ: world-renowned
• loka-viśrutaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + viśruta (प्रातिपदिक; from √śru)
• Form: Masculine; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) Singular; adjective qualifying nāradaḥ; तत्पुरुषसमासः—loke viśrutaḥ (renowned in the world)

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular

• vihāyasā: through the sky / by the air
• vihāyasā: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vihāyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया) Singular; used adverbially

• deva-upakāra-karaṇa-udyataḥ: eager to render help to the gods
• deva-upakāra-karaṇa-udyataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + upakāra (प्रातिपदिक) + karaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + udyata (प्रातिपदिक; from √yam/√ud-yam)
• Form: Masculine; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा) Singular; adjective qualifying nāradaḥ; multi-member तत्पुरुषसमासः—devānām upakārasya karaṇe udyataḥ (intent on doing service to the gods)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models the dharmic role of a devarṣi as messenger and catalyst; inspires devotees to act for loka-saṅgraha and protection of dharma as service to Śiva.

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva principle that divine order (dharma) is upheld through enlightened agents like Nārada, whose actions support the devas and ultimately align events toward Lord Shiva’s righteous purpose.

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

Though the verse is narrative, it supports Saguna Shiva’s cosmic governance: the devas’ welfare and restoration of balance are part of Shiva’s manifest oversight, which devotees honor through Linga worship as the stabilizing axis of dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is seva-bhāva (service aligned with dharma): devotees can pair daily japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with sankalpa for lokahita (welfare of beings), reflecting Nārada’s devopakāra-intent.