Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

वृन्दायाः दुष्स्वप्न-दर्शनं तथा पातिव्रत्य-भङ्गोपक्रमः / Vṛndā’s Ominous Dreams and the Prelude to the Breach of Chastity

Devanagari script

ततस्तत्कंठमासाद्य निजां बाहुलतां भयात् । मुने मां रक्ष शरणमागतास्मीत्यभाषत

Transliteration

tatastatkaṃṭhamāsādya nijāṃ bāhulatāṃ bhayāt | mune māṃ rakṣa śaraṇamāgatāsmītyabhāṣata

Translation

ତାପରେ ଭୟରେ ସେ ମୁନିଙ୍କ କଣ୍ଠକୁ ଧରି ନିଜ ଭୁଜାବନ୍ଧନରେ ଦୃଢ଼ ଭାବେ ଆଲିଙ୍ଗନ କରି କହିଲା—“ହେ ମୁନେ, ମୋତେ ରକ୍ଷା କରନ୍ତୁ; ମୁଁ ଶରଣାଗତ।”

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; 'कण्ठम्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कण्ठम्: neck, throat
• कण्ठम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आसाद्य: having reached/approached
• आसाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + सद् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), 'having approached/reached'

• निजाम्: her own
• निजाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; 'बाहुलताम्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• बाहुलताम्: arm-creeper; arm (embrace)
• बाहुलताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहुलता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भयात्: from fear
• भयात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

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

• रक्ष: protect
• रक्ष: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे (as goal)

• आगता: come, arrived
• आगता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकालिक कृदन्त (Past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'अस्मि' इत्यनेन सह वाक्ये

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/उद्धरणचिह्न (quotative particle)

• अभाषत: she spoke
• अभाषत: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

A frightened woman/supplicant within the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative (as quoted by the primary narrator, traditionally Sūta to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati—taking refuge with humility and fearlessness in the right protector; in Shaiva thought, surrender to the higher power (ultimately Shiva as Pati) is a doorway to grace and safety.

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

The emotional core is seeking protection through devotion; Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga worship) trains the mind to approach Shiva as the accessible refuge, transforming fear into trust in divine guardianship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to adopt śaraṇāgati with japa—repeat the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while mentally offering oneself for protection, supported by simple Shiva worship such as vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa if one follows those observances.