Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

क्रौञ्चशरणागमनम् तथा बाणासुरवधः

Krauñca Seeks Refuge; Slaying of Bāṇāsura

Devanagari script

पाहि मां शरणापन्नं प्रलंबा सुरपीडितम् । कुमार स्कन्द देवेश तारकारे महाप्रभो

Transliteration

pāhi māṃ śaraṇāpannaṃ pralaṃbā surapīḍitam | kumāra skanda deveśa tārakāre mahāprabho

Translation

ମୋତେ ରକ୍ଷା କରନ୍ତୁ— ମୁଁ ଶରଣାଗତ; ପ୍ରଲମ୍ବ ଓ ଦେବପୀଡକ ଅସୁରଦଳ ମୋତେ ଉତ୍ପୀଡ଼ନ କରୁଛି। ହେ କୁମାର, ହେ ସ୍କନ୍ଦ, ହେ ଦେବେଶ, ତାରକାସୁର-ବଧକ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ, ମୋତେ ଉଦ୍ଧାର କରନ୍ତୁ।

Word by Word

• पाहि: protect!
• पाहि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• शरणापन्नम्: one who has taken refuge
• शरणापन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण-आपन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; आपन्न = आप्/आप् धातु से क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शरणम् आपन्नः), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (qualifier)

• प्रलम्ब: O Pralamba (epithet/name)
• प्रलम्ब: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन (singular)

• सुरपीडितम्: tormented by the gods
• सुरपीडितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुर-पीडित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; पीडित = पीड् धातु से क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सुरैः पीडितम्), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कुमार: O Kumāra
• कुमार: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• स्कन्द: O Skanda
• स्कन्द: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• देवेश: O Lord of the gods
• देवेश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (देवानाम् ईशः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• तारकारे: O enemy of Tāraka
• तारकारे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक-अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तारकस्य अरिः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• महाप्रभो: O great lord
• महाप्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाप्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् प्रभुः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

A deva (celestial being) seeking refuge in Lord Skanda during the Tāraka conflict

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: पाहि मां शरणापन्नं प्रलंबा सुरपीडितम् । कुमार स्कन्द देवेश तारकारे महाप्रभो

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Kartikeya (Skanda/Kumāra)
• Tāraka
• Pralamba
• Devas

FAQs

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

It centers on śaraṇāgati (complete surrender): when the bound soul (pāśa-baddha) is oppressed by hostile forces, refuge in the Lord’s grace—here manifest as Skanda, Shiva’s power in action—becomes the saving principle.

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

Skanda is a Saguna manifestation connected to Shiva’s sovereign protection; devotion to Shiva (often through the Liṅga) naturally includes reliance on Shiva’s śakti and divine agencies that remove obstacles and subdue adharma, as invoked here.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is refuge-prayer with mantra-japa—especially “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with bhakti—combined with a daily act of surrender (offering fear and struggle to the Lord) before worship or meditation.