Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

तारकवधोत्तरं देवस्तुतिः पर्वतवरप्रदानं च / Devas’ Hymn after Tāraka’s Slaying and the Bestowal of Boons upon the Mountains

Devanagari script

इन्द्राद्या अमरास्सर्वे कुर्वंतो गुहसेवनम् । यथोचितं चतुर्दिक्षु जग्मुश्च प्रमुदास्तदा

Transliteration

indrādyā amarāssarve kurvaṃto guhasevanam | yathocitaṃ caturdikṣu jagmuśca pramudāstadā

Translation

ତେବେ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର ଆଦି ସମସ୍ତ ଅମରମାନେ ଗୁହ (କୁମାର)ଙ୍କୁ ଯଥୋଚିତ ସେବା-ପୂଜା କରି, ପରମ ପ୍ରମୋଦରେ ଚାରି ଦିଗକୁ ନିଜ ନିଜ ସ୍ଥାନକୁ ଚାଲିଗଲେ।

Word by Word

• indra-ādyāḥ: Indra and others
• indra-ādyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); समास: इन्द्र + आद्य (‘Indra and others’)

• amarāḥ: the gods
• amarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण of amarāḥ

• kurvantaḥ: doing/performing
• kurvantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• guha-sevanam: service to Guha
• guha-sevanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guha (प्रातिपदिक) + sevana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); समास: गुह + सेवन (‘service of Guha’)

• yathā-ucitam: appropriately
• yathā-ucitam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + ucita (कृदन्त from √uc)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘as is proper’

• catur-dikṣu: in the four directions
• catur-dikṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक) + diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), बहुवचन (Plural); द्विगु-समास: चतुर् + दिश् (‘in the four directions’)

• jagmuḥ: went
• jagmuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• pramudāḥ: joyful
• pramudāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pramuda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण of amarāḥ (‘joyful’)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Devas
• Guha (Kartikeya)

FAQs

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

It highlights that even the devas prosper through humble seva (reverent service) to the Shaiva divine order—here embodied in Guha (Kumāra). Joy arises when duty is performed properly and one returns to one’s ordained sphere in harmony with dharma.

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

Guha is a Saguna manifestation within Shiva’s sacred family and cosmic administration. Serving him is implicitly service to Shiva’s will (Pati), showing how devotion to Shiva’s forms and attendants supports the devotee’s alignment with Shiva’s grace and governance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse emphasizes guha-sevā—devotional service with proper conduct (yathocitam). Practically, one may perform respectful worship with Shaiva mantras (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offer simple upacāras, and cultivate disciplined duty and humility as a daily sādhanā.