Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42

कार्त्तिकेयान्वेषण-नन्दिसंवाद-वर्णनम्

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Devanagari script

कृत्तिका ऊचुः । वत्स सैन्यान्यसंख्यानि वेष्टयामासुरालयम् । किं कर्तव्यं क्व गंतव्यं महाभयमुपस्थितम्

Transliteration

kṛttikā ūcuḥ | vatsa sainyānyasaṃkhyāni veṣṭayāmāsurālayam | kiṃ kartavyaṃ kva gaṃtavyaṃ mahābhayamupasthitam

Translation

เหล่ากฤตติกากล่าวว่า “ลูกเอ๋ย กองทัพนับไม่ถ้วนได้ล้อมที่พำนักของเราแล้ว บัดนี้ควรทำอย่างไร จะไปที่ใด ความหวาดกลัวใหญ่หลวงได้มาถึงแล้ว”

Word by Word

• कृत्तिकाः: the Kṛttikās
• कृत्तिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् लकार (Perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन

• वत्स: dear child
• वत्स: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; संबोधन विभक्ति (Vocative); एकवचन

• सैन्यानि: armies, troops
• सैन्यानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• असंख्यानि: countless
• असंख्यानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + संख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन; ‘सैन्यानि’ इति विशेषण

• वेष्टयामासुः: have surrounded
• वेष्टयामासुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् लकार (Perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन

• आलयम्: dwelling, abode
• आलयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative)

• कर्तव्यम्: to be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Karya (कार्य/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्यता-वाचक कृदन्त (Gerundive, तव्यत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• क्व: where?
• क्व: Desha (देश/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb of place)

• गन्तव्यम्: to be gone to, where to go
• गन्तव्यम्: Gati (गति/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्यता-वाचक कृदन्त (Gerundive, तव्यत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• महाभयम्: great fear
• महाभयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—महच्च तत् भयम्

• उपस्थितम्: has arrived, is present
• उपस्थितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; ‘महाभयम्’ इति विशेषण

Speaker

Kṛttikās

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Kṛttikās

FAQs

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

It portrays the devotee’s moment of संकट (crisis) where human calculation fails; in Shaiva thought, such fear becomes the turning point that drives surrender to Pati (Shiva), the ultimate protector beyond worldly forces.

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

The verse sets the narrative ground for seeking refuge in Saguna Shiva—approaching the Lord as a living protector. In Shiva Purana practice, this same reliance is expressed through Linga-worship, where the devotee turns anxiety into prayer, offering, and remembrance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

In moments of भय (fear), repeat the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” mentally take refuge at Shiva’s feet, and (where tradition permits) apply Tripuṇḍra-bhasma as a reminder of Shiva’s guardianship and inner steadiness.