Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46

शिवस्य आश्वासनं हरि-ब्रह्मणोः तथा शङ्खचूडवृत्तान्तकथनम् / Śiva’s Reassurance to Hari and Brahmā; Account of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Origin

Devanagari script

तत्र दृष्ट्वा महेशानं पार्वतीवल्लभं प्रभुम् । दीनरक्षात्तदेहं च सगुणं देवनायकम्

Transliteration

tatra dṛṣṭvā maheśānaṃ pārvatīvallabhaṃ prabhum | dīnarakṣāttadehaṃ ca saguṇaṃ devanāyakam

Translation

ที่นั่นเมื่อได้เห็นมหีศาน ผู้เป็นพระผู้เป็นเจ้าผู้เป็นที่รักของพระปารวตี เขายังได้เห็นพระวรกายที่ทรงรับไว้เพื่อคุ้มครองผู้ทุกข์ยาก คือพระผู้เป็นเจ้าผู้มีคุณลักษณะ (สคุณะ) ผู้เป็นจอมเทพด้วย

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Locative adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• maheśānam: Maheśāna (Śiva)
• maheśānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• pārvatī-vallabham: beloved of Pārvatī
• pārvatī-vallabham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārvatī (प्रातिपदिक) + vallabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): pārvatyāḥ vallabhaḥ; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; apposition to maheśānam

• prabhum: the Lord
• prabhum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; apposition

• dīna-rakṣāt: from (the) protection of the helpless
• dīna-rakṣāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīna (प्रातिपदिक) + rakṣā (रक्षा, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): dīnānāṃ rakṣā; Strīliṅga, Pañcamī (5th/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana; ablative 'from/after (the act of) protection of the helpless'

• tad-deham: that body/form
• tad-deham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्-प्रातिपदिक) + deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (सर्वनाम-तत्पुरुष): tasya dehaḥ; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Vākyasaṃbandha (वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-निपात)

• saguṇam: with attributes; manifest
• saguṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (उपपद/सह-): saḥ guṇaiḥ saha; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of devanāyakam/taddeham

• deva-nāyakam: leader of the gods
• deva-nāyakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + nāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): devānāṃ nāyakaḥ; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s compassionate lordship: though transcendent, he manifests as Saguna (with form and qualities) specifically to protect the afflicted, showing grace as the direct cause of refuge and upliftment.

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

The verse explicitly names Shiva as “saguṇa,” affirming that devotees may approach him through manifest forms—such as the Linga or iconic forms—because the Lord willingly takes an accessible embodiment for the welfare of beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Saguna-upāsanā: worship Shiva as Devanāyaka with devotion—reciting the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while contemplating him as the protector of the distressed.