Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

न शंभोर्लज्जया वक्त्रं प्रत्यक्षं च विलोकितम् । न च सा लज्जयाविष्टा करोति प्रगटं मुखम्

Transliteration

na śaṃbhorlajjayā vaktraṃ pratyakṣaṃ ca vilokitam | na ca sā lajjayāviṣṭā karoti pragaṭaṃ mukham

Translation

حياءً، لم تنظر إلى وجه شَمبهو نظرًا مباشرًا؛ وهي أيضًا غلب عليها الخجل فلم تُبدِ وجهَها إبداءً ظاهرًا.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• śaṃbhoḥ: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• śaṃbhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• lajjayā: by/through shyness
• lajjayā: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lajjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; हेतौ/करणे (instrument/cause)

• vaktram: face
• vaktram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• pratyakṣam: directly, in front
• pratyakṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratyakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying vaktram)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• vilokitam: was seen/looked at
• vilokitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√lok (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘दृष्टम्/विलोकितम्’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• lajjayā: due to shyness
• lajjayā: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lajjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/हेतु

• āviṣṭā: overcome/possessed (by)
• āviṣṭā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā√viś (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying sā)

• karoti: makes/does
• karoti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• pragaṭam: open, manifest
• pragaṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pragaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying mukham)

• mukham: face/mouth
• mukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Satī’s reverent shyness before Śiva, portraying bhakti as humility and inner purity—an attitude that helps the soul (paśu) approach the Lord (Pati) without ego.

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

It reflects the devotee’s approach to Saguna Śiva—personal, intimate, yet reverent. In Linga-worship too, the devotee stands before Śiva with modesty and surrender, letting devotion—not display—be primary.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate inwardness during Shiva-puja: offer manasa-puja (mental worship) with restrained speech and focused gaze, repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with humility.