Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36

भूतत्रिपुरधर्मवर्णनम् (Description of the Dharma/Conduct of the Bhūta-Tripura) — Chapter 3

Devanagari script

अवशिष्टाश्च ये केचित्पलायनपरायणाः । निस्सृत्यारं समायाता हरेर्निकटमाकुलाः

Transliteration

avaśiṣṭāśca ye kecitpalāyanaparāyaṇāḥ | nissṛtyāraṃ samāyātā harernikaṭamākulāḥ

Translation

而那仍残留的少数人——一心只求逃遁——从门关奔出，惶乱不安，趋近于诃利（Hari，毗湿奴）以求庇护。

Word by Word

• avaśiṣṭāḥ: remaining
• avaśiṣṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avaśiṣṭa (कृदन्त; ava-√śiṣ धातु)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); past participle ‘remaining’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-निपात)

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); relative pronoun

• kecit: some
• kecit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim + cit (सर्वनाम + निपात)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); indefinite pronoun

• palāyana-parāyaṇāḥ: intent on flight
• palāyana-parāyaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: palāyana (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘devoted to fleeing’

• niḥsṛtya: having gone out/escaped
• niḥsṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: niḥ-√sṛ (सृ धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; ल्यप्), indeclinable (अव्ययभाव)

• aram: quickly
• aram: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aram (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/adverb (निपात/क्रियाविशेषण) meaning ‘quickly/sufficiently’; here adverbial ‘quickly’

• samāyātāḥ: having come/arrived
• samāyātāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√yā (या धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त; कर्तरि), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• hareḥ: of Hari (Viṣṇu)
• hareḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• nikaṭam: near (the vicinity)
• nikaṭam: Adhikaraṇa/Gati (अधिकरण/गति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nikaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially as goal/location

• ākulāḥ: agitated/confused
• ākulāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa episode to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Tripura conflict (deva-asura war narrative context)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights the instinct of beings to seek śaraṇāgati (refuge) when overwhelmed; in Shaiva Siddhanta, true safety is ultimately under Pati (Śiva), while even turning to Hari here shows the universal movement toward divine protection amid fear and karma.

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

Though the verse names Hari, it occurs within Śiva’s Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative, underscoring that Saguna forms (Hari and Hara) function as accessible refuges for devotees; Linga-worship similarly trains the mind in surrender to the Supreme Lord who stands beyond fear and conflict.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is cultivating śaraṇāgati through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady devotion; in fear or agitation, returning to mantra and inner remembrance is the meditative equivalent of “approaching the Lord’s proximity.”