Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40

देव-गण-समरः

Devas and Śiva’s Gaṇas Engage in Battle

Devanagari script

तदा ते ऋषयस्सर्वे सुभीता हि रमेश्वरम् । विज्ञप्तुकामास्सहसा शीघ्रमूचुर्नता भृशम्

Transliteration

tadā te ṛṣayassarve subhītā hi rameśvaram | vijñaptukāmāssahasā śīghramūcurnatā bhṛśam

Translation

Ketika itu semua resi menjadi sangat gentar; mereka menunduk sujud dengan penuh hormat, lalu segera berkata dengan pantas kepada Rameśvara, kerana ingin mempersembahkan permohonan yang rendah hati.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Masculine, Nominative, Plural; adjective)

• सुभीताः: very frightened
• सुभीताः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-भीत (कृदन्त; √भी (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; भूतकृदन्त-क्त (Masculine, Nominative, Plural; past participle)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• रमेश्वरम्: Rameśvara (Lord of Ramā)
• रमेश्वरम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रमा-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• विज्ञप्तु-कामाः: wishing to petition
• विज्ञप्तु-कामाः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विज्ञप्तु (तुमुन्; √ज्ञप्/ज्ञा (धातु)) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; ‘विज्ञप्तुं कामः’ इति (Masculine, Nominative, Plural; desirous to petition)

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थ-अव्यय (adverb: suddenly/at once)

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनवत् (adverbial accusative: quickly)

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम् (Perfect, 3rd person, Plural, Parasmaipada)

• नताः: having bowed
• नताः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नत (कृदन्त; √नम् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; भूतकृदन्त-क्त (Masculine, Nominative, Plural; bowed)

• भृशम्: greatly
• भृशम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/तीव्रतावाचक-अव्यय (adverb: greatly)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the scene, quoting the sages’ action toward Rameśvara/Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Rāmeśvara

Sthala Purana: Here ‘Rameśvara’ functions as an epithet of Śiva (‘Lord of Ramā/Lakṣmī’). It is not the Rāmeśvaram Jyotirliṅga episode (Rāma’s installation) but a title used in the Dakṣa-yajña context.

Significance: Darśana of Rāmeśvara is traditionally linked with expiation and completion of tīrtha-yātrā; in this verse, the theological sense is refuge in Śiva for protection and grace.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: devadeva ramānātha sarveśvara mahāprabho

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati—when the sages, overwhelmed by fear, turn to Shiva (Rameśvara) with deep reverence and truthful petition, showing that refuge in Pati (the Lord) is the safe path for the bound soul (paśu).

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

The verse portrays direct approach to the Lord in a personal, accessible manner—Saguna Shiva—through bowing and prayer; this same attitude underlies Linga-worship, where devotees present their requests and seek protection and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is reverential prostration (namaskāra) and sincere prayer before Shiva; in practice this aligns with Linga-upacāra, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and a humble inner offering of one’s fear and ego to the Lord.