Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

विष्णुचेष्टितवर्णनम् / Account of Viṣṇu’s Stratagem and Its Aftermath

Devanagari script

तदाज्ञया वयं सर्वे शरणं ते समागताः । त्वं हि शंभुर्युवां देवि भक्तोद्धारपरायणौ

Transliteration

tadājñayā vayaṃ sarve śaraṇaṃ te samāgatāḥ | tvaṃ hi śaṃbhuryuvāṃ devi bhaktoddhāraparāyaṇau

Translation

ତାଙ୍କ ଆଜ୍ଞାରେ ଆମେ ସମସ୍ତେ ଆପଣଙ୍କ ଶରଣକୁ ଆସିଛୁ। ଆପଣ ଶମ୍ଭୁ; ଆପଣ ମଧ୍ୟ, ହେ ଦେବୀ—ଆପଣ ଉଭୟେ ଭକ୍ତୋଦ୍ଧାରରେ ପରାୟଣ।

Word by Word

• तत्: by that
• तत्: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun used adjectivally with आज्ञया

• आज्ञया: by (your/that) command
• आज्ञया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with वयम् (sense: all of us)

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used with समागताः (came to refuge)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• समागताः: have come/arrived
• समागताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√gam (धातु) + āta (क्त/कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); finite sense with implied 'sma'/'as' = 'have come'

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Sambodhyam/Addressed (सम्बोधनार्थ/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphatic/causal

• शंभुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभुः: Sambodhyam/Addressed (सम्बोधनार्थ/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); epithet of Śiva

• युवाम्: you two
• युवाम्: Sambodhyam/Addressed (सम्बोधनार्थ/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuvām (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dual pronoun (द्विवचन-सर्वनाम), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• देवि: O Goddess
• देवि: Sambodhyam/Addressed (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• भक्त-उद्धार-परायणौ: devoted to rescuing devotees
• भक्त-उद्धार-परायणौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + uddhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); compound: भक्तानाम् उद्धारः (genitive tatpurusha) + तस्मिन् परायणौ (locative/goal sense) = 'devoted to the deliverance of devotees'; agrees with युवाम्

Speaker

A group of devas/attendants seeking protection (addressing Shiva and the Goddess)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga legend; the verse explicitly presents the divine couple as joint refuge and as committed to bhakta-uddhāra (deliverance).

Significance: Theological takeaway for pilgrims: śaraṇāgati to Śiva together with Devī; grace is mediated through the inseparable Śiva–Śakti dyad.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) in Pati—Śiva—together with Devī, affirming that their essential role is bhakta-uddhāra: protecting, purifying, and leading devotees toward liberation by grace.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva as Śambhu, the compassionate Lord who responds to surrender. In Linga worship, this same refuge is enacted through pūjā, mantra, and offering one’s fears and karmic burden at the Lord’s symbol of presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice śaraṇāgati with Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a simple daily refuge-prayer to Śiva and Devī; optionally wear Rudrākṣa and apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as reminders of reliance on Śiva’s grace.