Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

कार्तिकेयलीलावर्णनम्

Narration of Kārttikeya’s Divine Play

Devanagari script

हाहाकारो महानासीच्चकंपे साचला मही । त्रैलोक्यं च सुरेशानस्सदेवस्तत्र चागमत्

Transliteration

hāhākāro mahānāsīccakaṃpe sācalā mahī | trailokyaṃ ca sureśānassadevastatra cāgamat

Translation

മഹാ ഹാഹാകാരം ഉയർന്നു; ചലിക്കുന്ന ഭൂമി വിറച്ചു. അപ്പോൾ ദേവാധിപൻ ഇന്ദ്രൻ സർവ്വ ദേവന്മാരോടുകൂടെ അവിടെ എത്തി; ത്രിലോകവും കലങ്ങിപ്പോയി।

Word by Word

• hāhā-kāraḥ: a cry of ‘hā hā’ (lamentation)
• hāhā-kāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hāhā (अव्यय/ध्वन्यनुकरण) + kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः अव्ययीभावः (hāhā-śabdaḥ iti kāraḥ)

• mahān: great
• mahān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• āsīt: was
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• akaṃpe: did not tremble
• akaṃpe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a- (नञ्) + √kamp (धातु) → kamp (कम्प्)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; नञ्-पूर्वकं ‘did not tremble’

• sā: she/that (earth)
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• acalā: unmoving
• acalā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + cala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समासान्त विशेषण ‘immovable’

• mahī: the earth
• mahī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• trailokyam: the three worlds
• trailokyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः द्विगुः (tri-loka = ‘three worlds’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• sureśānaḥ: the lord of the gods
• sureśānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (surāṇām īśānaḥ = ‘lord of the gods’)

• sa-devaḥ: together with the gods
• sa-devaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/सहितार्थक-उपसर्गवत्) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः अव्ययीभावः (sa-deva = ‘together with the gods’)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• agamat: came/arrived
• agamat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: trailokya-kṣobha (three-world agitation) with bhūkampana (earth-tremor)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse portrays how, when cosmic order is disturbed, even the gods become alarmed—implying that worldly supports are limited, while Shiva (Pati) alone is the ultimate ground of stability and refuge beyond the trembling of the three worlds.

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

The agitation of the three worlds highlights the need for a tangible focus of surrender; in Shaiva practice, the Shiva-Linga as Saguna support (ādhāra) anchors devotion and remembrance of the transcendent Shiva who governs and steadies creation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

In times of fear or instability, japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and/or Rudrākṣa is a Shaiva Siddhanta-aligned takeaway—centering the mind in Shiva as protector and inner steadiness.