Shloka 9

एकादशरुद्रावतारकथनम् / Account of the Eleven Rudra Manifestations

Rudrāvatāras

Devanagari script

महान्कालो व्यतीयाय तपतस्तस्य वै मुनेः । शिवपादाम्बुजासक्तमनसो धैर्य्यशालिनः

Transliteration

mahānkālo vyatīyāya tapatastasya vai muneḥ | śivapādāmbujāsaktamanaso dhairyyaśālinaḥ

Translation

ആ മുനി തപസ്സിൽ ഏർപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കെ അത്യന്തം ദീർഘകാലം കടന്നുപോയി. ധൈര്യശാലിയായ അവന്റെ മനസ് ശിവന്റെ പാദപദ്മങ്ങളിൽ ദൃഢമായി ആസക്തമായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• महान्: great
• महान्: विशेषण (Adjectival to Kartā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘कालः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• कालः: time
• कालः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्यतीयाय: elapsed
• व्यतीयाय: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-अति-इ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; ‘passed by/elapsed’

• तपतः: of (him) performing penance
• तपतः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘of (him) who is performing austerity’

• तस्य: of that (sage)
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• मुनेः: of the sage
• मुनेः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• शिव-पाद-अम्बुज-आसक्त-मनसः: whose mind was attached to Shiva’s lotus-feet
• शिव-पाद-अम्बुज-आसक्त-मनसः: विशेषण (Adjectival to Genitive noun)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक) + आसक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (यस्य मनः शिवस्य पादाम्बुजे आसक्तम्), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘मुनेः/तस्य’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• धैर्य-शालिनः: of the steadfast one, possessing fortitude
• धैर्य-शालिनः: विशेषण (Adjectival to Genitive noun)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धैर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + शालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘धैर्यं शीलं यस्य’/‘धैर्येण शालिन्’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘मुनेः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The emphasis is on prolonged tapas and unwavering fixation on Śiva’s feet; no specific kṣetra/Jyotirliṅga is named in this verse.

Significance: Models the sādhaka’s endurance through ‘long time’—a lived experience of tirodhāna (delay/concealment) that ripens receptivity to anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that true tapas becomes fruitful when joined with unwavering bhakti—keeping the mind anchored in Śiva (Pati) with patience and inner fortitude over long periods.

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

The verse emphasizes saguna-upāsanā through devotion to Śiva’s “lotus-feet,” a personal focus that also aligns with Linga worship as a steady support for meditation and surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sustained japa and dhyāna with endurance—especially Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) or focused contemplation on Śiva—paired with disciplined tapas and mental steadiness.