Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

दक्षस्य विष्णुं प्रति शरणागतिḥ — Dakṣa’s Appeal to Viṣṇu and the Teaching on Disrespect to Śiva

Devanagari script

तस्माद्रक्षा विधातव्या यज्ञस्यास्य मम प्रभो । त्वदन्यः यस्समर्थोस्ति यतस्त्वं सकलप्रभुः

Transliteration

tasmādrakṣā vidhātavyā yajñasyāsya mama prabho | tvadanyaḥ yassamarthosti yatastvaṃ sakalaprabhuḥ

Translation

അതുകൊണ്ട് ഹേ പ്രഭോ, എന്റെ ഈ യജ്ഞത്തിന് രക്ഷ ഏർപ്പെടുത്തണം. നിനക്കൊഴികെ ആരാണ് സമർത്ഥൻ? നീയല്ലോ സർവ്വാധിപതി.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन; अर्थ: ‘therefore/from that reason’

• रक्षा: protection
• रक्षा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृस्थानीया (वाक्ये विधेय-भाव)

• विधातव्या: must be provided/arranged
• विधातव्या: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√धा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Gerundive/obligatory); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थ: ‘to be done/should be arranged’ (रक्षा विधातव्या)

• यज्ञस्य: of the sacrifice
• यज्ञस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• त्वत्-अन्यः: other than you
• त्वत्-अन्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: त्वत्तः अन्यः = other than you; विशेषणम् (यः)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• समर्थः: capable
• समर्थः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (यः)

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक (because/since)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सकल-प्रभुः: lord of all
• सकल-प्रभुः: Vidhaya (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: सकलः प्रभुः = lord of all

Speaker

Sati (addressing Lord Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse expresses śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): Sati acknowledges that only Shiva, the universal Lord (sakala-prabhu), can truly safeguard sacred dharma such as a yajña, pointing to Shiva as Pati—the ultimate protector and ruler.

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

It reflects devotion to Saguna Shiva as the accessible, personal Lord who protects devotees and sacred rites; in Shiva Purana theology, such reliance naturally culminates in Linga-worship as the stable, ever-present form of Shiva’s guardianship and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to begin and protect sacred actions by invoking Shiva—mentally taking refuge and reciting Shiva-mantra (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a protective saṅkalpa before any rite.