Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26

शिवस्तुतिवर्णनम् (Śiva-stuti-varṇanam) — “Description of Hymns in Praise of Śiva”

Devanagari script

पाह्यनन्यगतीञ्शंभो सुरान्नो देववल्लभ । नष्टप्रायांस्त्रिपुरतो विनिहत्यासुरान्क्षणात्

Transliteration

pāhyananyagatīñśaṃbho surānno devavallabha | naṣṭaprāyāṃstripurato vinihatyāsurānkṣaṇāt

Translation

Ôi Śambhu, nơi nương tựa của kẻ không còn chốn nào khác—Đấng được chư Thiên yêu kính—xin che chở các Deva của chúng con. Ngài đã trong khoảnh khắc diệt các Asura; xin giải thoát chúng con khỏi Tripura, vì chúng con gần như đã bị tiêu diệt.

Word by Word

• pāhi: protect
• pāhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• ananya-gatīn: having no other refuge
• ananya-gatīn: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananya (प्रातिपदिक) + gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: अनन्यगतिः = न अन्यः गतिः यस्य; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण to 'surān'

• śambho: O Śambhu
• śambho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative, 8th case), एकवचन

• surān: the gods
• surān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• naḥ: for us / our
• naḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive) बहुवचन/वा चतुर्थी (Dative) बहुवचन; अत्र प्रायः चतुर्थी-अर्थे (for us)

• deva-vallabha: O beloved of the gods
• deva-vallabha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + vallabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: देववल्लभ = देवानां वल्लभः; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• naṣṭa-prāyān: almost ruined
• naṣṭa-prāyān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naṣṭa (√naś-धातोः क्त कृदन्त) + prāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: नष्टप्रायः = नष्टस्य प्रायः (almost destroyed); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण to 'surān' (understood)

• tripurataḥ: from Tripura
• tripurataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tripura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययीभूत तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb): -तः = 'from'

• vinihatya: having slain
• vinihatya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ni-√han (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• asurān: the demons
• asurān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• kṣaṇāt: in a moment
• kṣaṇāt: Apādāna/Adhikaraṇa (अपादान/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative, 5th case), एकवचन; कालापादान (from/within a moment)

Speaker

The Devas (gods), praying to Lord Śiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Tripura episode is pan-Purāṇic and not tied here to a specific jyotirliṅga; it functions as a mythic paradigm of Śiva’s instantaneous grace and protective intervention for the devas.

Significance: Invokes Śiva as ananya-śaraṇa (sole refuge). Pilgrimage/vrata is framed as surrender (śaraṇāgati) culminating in protection and liberation from ‘Tripura’ as bondage.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: pāhyananyagatīñśaṃbho surānno devavallabha

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas
• Asuras
• Tripura

FAQs

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

It expresses śaraṇāgati (total surrender): when all other supports fail, the Devas take Śiva as the sole refuge (ananyagatī). In Shaiva Siddhānta, this highlights Pati (Śiva) as the compassionate Lord whose grace removes fear and restores cosmic order.

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

The prayer addresses Śiva in a personal, Saguna form—Śambhu and Devavallabha—showing devotional approach to the Lord who actively protects devotees. Linga-worship similarly treats the Linga as the accessible, worshipful presence of that same Śiva who grants protection and victory over inner and outer asuric forces.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice refuge-taking through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with the bhāva of ananyagatī (no other shelter), and offer water/bilva to the Śiva-liṅga seeking protection from fear and obstacles—especially suitable for Mahāśivarātri observance.