Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4

विष्णोः स्तुतिः—शिवसतीरक्षावचनम्

Viṣṇu’s Hymn and the Petition for Śiva–Satī’s Protection

Devanagari script

युवां लीलावतारौ द्वे सतां क्षेमाय सर्वदा । खलानां निग्रहार्थाय श्रुतिरेषा सनातनी

Transliteration

yuvāṃ līlāvatārau dve satāṃ kṣemāya sarvadā | khalānāṃ nigrahārthāya śrutireṣā sanātanī

Translation

Kamu berdua ialah sepasang penjelmaan ilahi dalam lila, sentiasa demi kesejahteraan dan perlindungan orang-orang saleh; dan demi mengekang serta menundukkan yang durjana—itulah ajaran kekal yang diteguhkan oleh śruti yang suci.

Word by Word

• yuvām: you two
• yuvām: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā vibhakti, Dvivacana; 2nd person pronoun (you two)

• līlā-avatārau: playful incarnations
• līlā-avatārau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक) + avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Dvivacana; तत्पुरुषः ‘लीलायाः अवतारः’

• dve: two
• dve: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga/napuṃsaka form used with dvivacana sense; Prathamā vibhakti, Dvivacana; numeral adjective qualifying ‘avatārau’

• satām: of the good/virtuous
• satām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• kṣemāya: for welfare
• kṣemāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣema (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī vibhakti (4th/सम्प्रदान), Ekavacana

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (temporal adverb)

• khalānām: of the wicked
• khalānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• nigraha-arthāya: for the purpose of restraint/punishment
• nigraha-arthāya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nigraha (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī vibhakti, Ekavacana; तत्पुरुषः ‘निग्रहस्य अर्थः’

• śrutiḥ: scriptural statement (śruti)
• śrutiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śruti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• eṣā: this
• eṣā: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• sanātanī: eternal
• sanātanī: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; adjective qualifying ‘śrutiḥ’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages, conveying the established Śruti-aligned doctrine)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

FAQs

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

It states a perennial Shaiva principle: the Lord’s manifested activity (līlā) serves two ends—grace and protection for the sādhus, and the checking of adharma—so devotees can remain established in dharma and progress toward liberation.

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

By affirming līlā-avatāra, the verse supports Saguna worship: the same transcendent Pati becomes accessible through forms and actions. Linga-worship is a stable, non-sectarian focus for that grace, sustaining the devotee’s kṣema and dharmic life.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with dharmic discipline, dedicating one’s conduct to the protection of sattva within and the restraint of harmful impulses (khalatā) through devotion and self-control.