Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1

देवस्तुतिवर्णनम् (Deva-stuti-varṇana) — “Description of the Gods’ Hymn/Praise”

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एतच्छुत्वा तु सर्वेषां देवादीनां वचो हरः । अंगीचकार सुप्रीत्या शरण्यो भक्तवत्सलः

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | etacchutvā tu sarveṣāṃ devādīnāṃ vaco haraḥ | aṃgīcakāra suprītyā śaraṇyo bhaktavatsalaḥ

Translation

سنَتکُمار نے کہا—دیوتاؤں وغیرہ کے یہ کلمات سن کر، پناہ دینے والے اور بھکتوں پر شفقت کرنے والے ہر (شیو) نے بڑی خوشی اور محبت سے اسے قبول فرما لیا۔

Word by Word

• sanatkumāraḥ: Sanatkumāra
• sanatkumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanatkumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (Pronoun), Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana, Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śru (धातु) + ktvā (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund) in -ktvā, avyaya-prayoga

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle), contrast/emphasis

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Bahuvacana

• deva-ādīnām: of the gods and others
• deva-ādīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devādi = deva + ādi (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• vacaḥ: the words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• haraḥ: Hara (Śiva)
• haraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• aṅgīcakāra: accepted / assented
• aṅgīcakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: aṅgī-kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• suprītyā: with great pleasure
• suprītyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suprīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana

• śaraṇyaḥ: refuge-giving
• śaraṇyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaraṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'haraḥ'

• bhakta-vatsalaḥ: affectionate to devotees
• bhakta-vatsalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaktavatsala = bhakta + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'haraḥ'

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva as Śaraṇya (the sure refuge) and Bhaktavatsala (tender toward devotees): when beings sincerely appeal, the Lord responds out of grace, reinforcing the Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on divine anugraha (saving grace).

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

The verse presents Shiva in a personal, responsive (saguṇa) mode—one who hears prayers and consents to protect—supporting devotional worship such as Linga-pūjā where the devotee approaches Shiva as the compassionate Lord who grants refuge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is śaraṇāgati with bhakti: approach Shiva with humble prayer while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and offer simple Linga worship (water, bilva) as an expression of trusting refuge.