Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 2
कुमाराद्भुतचरितवर्णनम् — Description of Kumāra’s Wondrous Deeds
द्विज एको नारदाख्य आजगाम तदैव हि । तत्राध्वरकरः श्रीमाञ्शरणार्थं गुहस्य वै
dvija eko nāradākhya ājagāma tadaiva hi | tatrādhvarakaraḥ śrīmāñśaraṇārthaṃ guhasya vai
ในกาลนั้นเอง พราหมณ์ผู้หนึ่งนามว่านารทได้มาถึงที่นั่น ฤๅษีผู้รุ่งเรือง ผู้ชำนาญในพิธียัญ ได้มาขอพึ่งพระคุหะ (กุมาร) เป็นที่พึ่ง.
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Significance: Model of śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) to the Lord’s manifestation; hearing/remembering this fosters devotion and humility.
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) as a primary Shaiva virtue: even a great sage like Nārada approaches Guha with humility, implying that grace is accessed through surrender rather than mere ritual status.
Guha is a Saguna manifestation within Shiva’s divine family; approaching him for refuge reflects the Purāṇic path of devotion to Shiva’s forms and attendants, which ultimately supports devotion to Shiva (including Linga worship) as the supreme refuge.
The practical takeaway is to cultivate refuge-taking through bhakti: mentally surrender and recite Shiva’s name (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while honoring Shiva’s family deities, aligning ritual (adhvara) with inner devotion.