Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

विष्णुचेष्टितवर्णनम् / Account of Viṣṇu’s Stratagem and Its Aftermath

Devanagari script

गच्छध्वं शरणा देवा विष्णुमोहापनुत्तये । शरण्यां मोहिनीमायां शिवाख्यां सर्वकामदाम्

Transliteration

gacchadhvaṃ śaraṇā devā viṣṇumohāpanuttaye | śaraṇyāṃ mohinīmāyāṃ śivākhyāṃ sarvakāmadām

Translation

தேவர்களே, விஷ்ணுவைச் சார்ந்த மயக்கத்தை நீக்குவதற்காகச் சரணடைந்திடுங்கள். சரணமளிக்கும், மோகினி மாயையான ‘சிவா’ எனப்படும், எல்லா விருப்பங்களையும் அருள்பவளின் அடைக்கலம் கொள்ளுங்கள்.

Word by Word

• गच्छध्वम्: go (you all)
• गच्छध्वम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (imperative), मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• शरणम्: to refuge
• शरणम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; गत्यर्थे द्वितीया (accusative of goal)

• देवाः: O gods
• देवाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; संबोधनार्थे प्रथमा (address)

• विष्णु-मोह-अपनुत्तये: for removing Viṣṇu’s delusion
• विष्णु-मोह-अपनुत्तये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + मोह (प्रातिपदिक) + अपनुत्ति (प्रातिपदिक; from √नुद् with apa-, ‘removal’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (सम्प्रदान), एकवचनम्; प्रयोजनार्थे चतुर्थी (dative of purpose): ‘for the removal’; समासः: विष्णोः मोहः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + अपनुत्ति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मोहस्य अपनुत्तिः)

• शरण्याम्: refuge-giving
• शरण्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• मोहिनी-मायाम्: the enchanting Māyā
• मोहिनी-मायाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः: मोहिनी एव माया

• शिव-आख्याम्: named Śivā/Śiva
• शिव-आख्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: शिवस्य आख्या (named ‘Śivā’/‘Śiva’)

• सर्व-काम-दाम्: granting all desires
• सर्व-काम-दाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + दा (प्रातिपदिक; from √दा ‘to give’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: सर्वान् कामान् ददाति इति (giver of all desires)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the episode to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Devas
• Māyā (Śivā-Śakti)

FAQs

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

The verse teaches śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): when even the devas are overcome by moha (delusion), the remedy is to seek shelter in Śiva’s grace and Śakti, the refuge that clears भ्रम (confusion) and restores right discernment toward dharma and liberation.

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

In Shaiva practice, taking refuge in “Śivā” points to approaching Shiva through accessible forms—especially the Śiva-liṅga—where devotion, mantra, and worship invoke Shiva’s śakti to dissolve māyic delusion and grant both worldly boons and the higher aim of mokṣa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is surrender and mantra-based recollection of Shiva: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), worship of the liṅga with sincere refuge-taking, and steady contemplation that Shiva’s śakti removes moha and grants the sought spiritual end.