Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

शङ्खचूडदूतागमनम् — The Arrival of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Envoy

and Praise of Śiva

Devanagari script

अवरुह्य रथाद् दूतस्तं दृष्ट्वा दानवेश्वरः । शंकरं सकुमारं च शिरसा प्रणनाम सः

Transliteration

avaruhya rathād dūtastaṃ dṛṣṭvā dānaveśvaraḥ | śaṃkaraṃ sakumāraṃ ca śirasā praṇanāma saḥ

Translation

രഥത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ഇറങ്ങിയ ദൂതൻ, ദാനവാധിപനെ കണ്ടപ്പോൾ, ശങ്കരനോടും ദിവ്യകുമാരനായ സ്കന്ദനോടും ശിരസാ നമസ്കരിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• अवरुह्य: having descended
• अवरुह्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: रुह्, उपसर्ग: अव-; ‘having descended’

• रथात्: from the chariot
• रथात्: अपादान (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• दूतः: the messenger
• दूतः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having seen’

• दानवेश्वरः: the lord of the demons
• दानवेश्वरः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive Tatpurusha): दानवानाम् ईश्वरः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सकुमारम्: (along with) Kumāra
• सकुमारम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: सः कुमारः (with the boy/with Kumāra); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• प्रणनाम: bowed down
• प्रणनाम: क्रिया (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; धातु: नम्, उपसर्ग: प्र-

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Virabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kartikeya
• Danavas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (surrender) expressed through praṇāma: even amid conflict, reverence to Pati (Śiva) and His divine power (Kumāra) purifies intent and aligns the soul (paśu) toward grace.

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

The act of bowing to Śaṅkara reflects Saguna-upāsanā—devotion to the manifest Lord. In practice, the same attitude is offered before the Śiva-liṅga: humility, acknowledgment of Śiva as supreme refuge, and honoring His śakti through His divine attendants/sons.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt praṇāma and mental surrender before japa: bow to Śiva (and Skanda) and then repeat the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a calm, reverent mind; optionally apply tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of humility and detachment.