Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 54

मेनायाः क्रोध-विलापः — Menā’s Lament and Reproach

to the Sage

Devanagari script

महेशश्शंकरश्चायं सर्वदेवप्रभुस्स्वराट् । नानारूपाभिधो मातर्हरिब्रह्मादिसेवितः

Transliteration

maheśaśśaṃkaraścāyaṃ sarvadevaprabhussvarāṭ | nānārūpābhidho mātarharibrahmādisevitaḥ

Translation

母亲啊，此主即大自在天——商羯罗本尊——为诸天之主、自在的君王。祂以多种形相与多种名号为人所知，连哈利（毗湿奴）、梵天及诸神亦皆敬奉礼拜。

Word by Word

• महेशः: Maheśa
• महेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्व-देव-प्रभुः: lord of all gods
• सर्व-देव-प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां देवानां प्रभुः)

• स्वराट्: independent sovereign
• स्वराट्: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वराट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; राजवाचक (self-ruling/independent)

• नाना-रूप-अभिधः: called by many forms/names
• नाना-रूप-अभिधः: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीह्यर्थे तत्पुरुष-प्रयोगः (नानारूपैः अभिधीयते)

• मातर्: O mother
• मातर्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• हरि-ब्रह्म-आदि-सेवितः: served by Hari, Brahmā, and others
• हरि-ब्रह्म-आदि-सेवितः: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवित (सेव् धातु + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; तत्पुरुष (हरिब्रह्मादिभिः सेवितः)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms Śiva as sarvadeva-prabhu and svarāṭ; supports the Siddhānta view that all devatās function under Pati’s adhikāra, so pilgrimage to Śiva-kṣetras is approach to the supreme overlord.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It affirms Shiva as Mahesha—the independent, sovereign Pati (Lord) who transcends the hierarchy of the devas; even Brahma and Vishnu approach Him in devotion, indicating that liberation ultimately depends on Shiva’s grace.

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

By praising Shiva as ‘known by many forms and names,’ the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching the one Supreme through accessible manifestations such as the Shiva-Linga, through which devotees offer bhakti to the same Mahesha revered by the gods.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily Shiva-upāsanā with the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offered with humility like the devas—optionally accompanied by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva marks of remembrance.