Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

शिवस्य सैन्यप्रयाणम् तथा गणपतिनामावलिः (Śiva’s Mobilization for War and the Catalogue of Gaṇa Commanders)

Devanagari script

नृत्यंती च हसंती च गायंती सुस्वरं मुदा । अभयं ददती स्वेभ्यो भयं चारिभ्य एव सा

Transliteration

nṛtyaṃtī ca hasaṃtī ca gāyaṃtī susvaraṃ mudā | abhayaṃ dadatī svebhyo bhayaṃ cāribhya eva sā

Translation

ಅವಳು ಹರ್ಷದಿಂದ ನೃತ್ಯಮಾಡುತ್ತಾ, ನಗುತ್ತಾ, ಮಧುರಸ್ವರದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಡುತ್ತಾ ಇದ್ದಳು; ತನ್ನ ಭಕ್ತರಿಗೆ ಅಭಯವನ್ನು ನೀಡುತ್ತಾ, ಶತ್ರುಗಳಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಭಯವನ್ನೇ ನೀಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಳು।

Word by Word

• नृत्यन्ती: dancing
• नृत्यन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नृत् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, शतृ-प्रत्यय (वर्तमानकालिक वर्तमानकृदन्त/Present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; “dancing”

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• हसन्ती: laughing
• हसन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हस् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, शतृ-प्रत्यय; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; “laughing”

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• गायन्ती: singing
• गायन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै/गा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, शतृ-प्रत्यय; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; “singing”

• सु-स्वरम्: sweetly (in a good voice)
• सु-स्वरम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative sense) = “with a good voice/sweetly”

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; “with joy” (instrumental of manner)

• अभयम्: fearlessness (assurance)
• अभयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; “fearlessness/assurance”

• ददती: giving
• ददती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, शतृ-प्रत्यय; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; “giving”

• स्वेभ्यः: to her own (followers)
• स्वेभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), बहुवचन; “to her own (people)”

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; “fear”

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• अरिभ्यः: to/for enemies
• अरिभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), बहुवचन; “from/for enemies” (here: to enemies—often dative sense overlaps; formally ablative)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kali

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the Shaiva principle that divine grace (anugraha) manifests as abhaya—inner fearlessness—for the devoted, while the same divine power becomes a force of restraint and awe for adharmic opponents.

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

It reflects Saguna worship where Shiva’s Shakti actively protects bhaktas: devotion to Shiva (often through Linga-upasana) is understood to draw the protective, fear-dispelling presence of Shiva–Shakti into one’s life.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate abhaya through bhakti-based japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a steady mind; if following Shiva Purana practice, accompany it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as supports for remembrance and protection.