Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 52

देवस्तुतिः (Devastuti) — Hymn/Praise of the Devas

Devanagari script

गंधर्वाणां चित्ररथो वसूनां पावको ध्रुवम् । मासानामधिमासस्त्वं व्रतानां त्वं चतुर्दशी

Transliteration

gaṃdharvāṇāṃ citraratho vasūnāṃ pāvako dhruvam | māsānāmadhimāsastvaṃ vratānāṃ tvaṃ caturdaśī

Translation

在诸乾闼婆（Gandharva）之中，汝为奇多罗车（Citraratha）；在诸婆苏（Vasu）之中，汝为帕瓦迦（Pāvaka）。汝为德鲁瓦（Dhruva），坚住不移的北极星。于诸月之中，汝为阿地摩娑（Adhimāsa）——闰月；于诸誓行（vrata）之中，汝为十四日（Caturdaśī）——奉献于汝的最胜之戒。

Word by Word

• गन्धर्वाणाम्: of the Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वाणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• चित्ररथः: Citraratha
• चित्ररथः: प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध (Predicate nominative/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्ररथ (प्रातिपदिक) = चित्र + रथ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (चित्रः रथः यस्य/चित्र-रथः) विशेष-नाम

• वसूनाम्: of the Vasus
• वसूनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• पावकः: Pāvaka (Agni)
• पावकः: प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध (Predicate nominative/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग (adverbial accusative/नपुंसक-द्वितीया एकवचन used adverbially): certainly/indeed

• मासानाम्: of months
• मासानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• अधिमासः: the intercalary month (Adhimāsa)
• अधिमासः: प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध (Predicate nominative/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिमास (प्रातिपदिक) = अधि + मास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (अधिकः मासः = intercalary month)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• व्रतानाम्: of vows/observances
• व्रतानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• चतुर्दशी: the fourteenth lunar day (Caturdaśī)
• चतुर्दशी: प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध (Predicate nominative/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तिथिवाचक-शब्द

Speaker

Lord Shiva (praised in a stotra within the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative, relayed by Sūta to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: By identifying Śiva with Dhruva (steadfastness) and sacred calendrical markers (Adhimāsa, Caturdaśī), the verse sacralizes time for worship—key for vrata-based pilgrimage cycles.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Citraratha
• Vasus
• Pavaka
• Dhruva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Shiva as the indwelling supremacy behind all exalted categories—celestial beings, cosmic principles, and sacred time—teaching that the highest greatness in any realm ultimately points to Pati (Shiva), the Lord who grants liberation.

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

By identifying Shiva with the “best among” sacred measures (like Caturdaśī and Adhimāsa), it supports Saguna worship through time-bound rites—especially Linga-pūjā—where devotees approach the transcendent (Nirguṇa) through a gracious, worshipable form (Saguṇa).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It highlights Caturdaśī as Shiva’s prime vrata—practically observed through fasting, night vigil, and Linga-abhiṣeka with mantra-japa (notably the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), aligning mind and conduct to Shiva-consciousness.