Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

शङ्खचूडवधकथनम् / The Account of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Slaying

Devanagari script

तत्र गत्वा त्रिलोकेशं विष्णुं रक्षाकरं परम् । प्रणम्य तुष्टुवुस्सर्वे करौ बद्ध्वा विनम्रकाः

Transliteration

tatra gatvā trilokeśaṃ viṣṇuṃ rakṣākaraṃ param | praṇamya tuṣṭuvussarve karau baddhvā vinamrakāḥ

Translation

അവിടെ ചെന്നു അവർ എല്ലാവരും ത്രിലോകേശ്വരനും പരമരക്ഷകനുമായ ഭഗവാൻ വിഷ്ണുവിനെ സമീപിച്ചു. കൈകൂപ്പി വിനയത്തോടെ നമസ്കരിച്ചു സ്തുതിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place: there)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• त्रिलोकेशम्: the Lord of the three worlds
• त्रिलोकेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + लोक + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (त्रिलोकस्य ईशः)

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• रक्षाकरम्: protector (one who gives protection)
• रक्षाकरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्षा + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समासः (रक्षां करोति)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), उपसर्गः प्र

• तुष्टुवुः: they praised
• तुष्टुवुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• सर्वे: all (of them)
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• करौ: (their) two hands
• करौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• बद्ध्वा: having joined/bound
• बद्ध्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• विनम्रकाः: humble
• विनम्रकाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनम्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) expressed through namaskāra and stuti: when beings face danger, humility and sincere praise become the doorway to divine protection, aligning the seeker with dharma rather than panic or pride.

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

Within the Shiva Purana’s Shaiva frame, devotion to saguna forms trains the heart in surrender; here, even while the broader narrative serves Shiva’s cosmic purpose, approaching Viṣṇu as protector shows that reverence to divine guardianship supports the devotee’s steadiness on the path that culminates in Pati (Shiva) as the supreme liberator.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Anjali (folded hands), namaskāra, and stuti are implied—simple daily bhakti practices. As a Shaiva takeaway, one may pair this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a brief prayer for rakṣā (protection) before beginning worship.