Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

शुक्रस्य जठरस्थत्वं तथा मृत्युशमनी-विद्या (Śukra in Śiva’s belly and the death-subduing vidyā)

Devanagari script

रक्षरक्षाभितो विप्र प्रव्रज्य शरणागतान् । असुराञ्छत्रुभिर्वीरैरर्दितांश्च मृतानपि

Transliteration

rakṣarakṣābhito vipra pravrajya śaraṇāgatān | asurāñchatrubhirvīrairarditāṃśca mṛtānapi

Translation

โอ้ พราหมณ์ เหล่าผู้มาขอพึ่งพิงร้องซ้ำแล้วซ้ำเล่าว่า “คุ้มครองเถิด คุ้มครองเถิด” แล้วออกไปแสวงที่พึ่ง—ผู้ถูกวีรชนฝ่ายศัตรูรังแก แม้ผู้ถูกอสูรสังหารก็ด้วย

Word by Word

• रक्ष: protect!
• रक्ष: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative); मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person); एकवचन

• रक्ष: protect! (again)
• रक्ष: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन (पुनरुक्ति—emphasis)

• अभितः: on all sides
• अभितः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभितः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: around/on all sides)

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; सम्बोधन (Vocative)

• प्रव्रज्य: having gone forth / having approached
• प्रव्रज्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); ‘having gone forth/approached’

• शरण-आगतान्: those who have sought refuge
• शरण-आगतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक) + आगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; आ + गम् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (द्वितीया-तत्पुरुष: ‘शरणम् आगत’); पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; द्वितीया (Accusative)

• असुरान्: demons
• असुरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; द्वितीया (Accusative)

• शत्रुभिः: by enemies
• शत्रुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; तृतीया (Instrumental)

• वीरैः: by heroic (ones)
• वीरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; तृतीया (Instrumental); विशेषण (qualifying ‘शत्रुभिः’)

• अर्दितान्: afflicted, tormented
• अर्दितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्दित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; अर्द्/अर्दय् धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; द्वितीया (Accusative); विशेषण (qualifying ‘शरणागतान्/असुरान्’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मृतान्: dead (ones)
• मृतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; मृ धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; द्वितीया (Accusative)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Implies the salvific power of śaraṇāgati: even the most afflicted seek Śiva’s protection; pilgrimage ethos of ‘come as you are’ to the Lord’s refuge.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: रक्ष रक्ष

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Asuras

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati—when beings, overwhelmed by fear and suffering, seek refuge, divine grace becomes their true protection; in Shaiva Siddhānta, turning to Pati (Śiva) is the remedy for the bondage and affliction caused by hostile forces.

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

The cry “Protect us” reflects approaching Saguna Śiva as the compassionate Lord who responds to devotees’ distress; Linga-worship embodies this accessible refuge, where the devotee entrusts life, fear, and fate to Śiva’s protecting presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a refuge-prayer with japa—mentally repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while offering water to the Śiva-liṅga, and wearing/holding rudrākṣa as a steady reminder of surrender and protection.