Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3

प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च

The Great Assembly at Prayāga: Śiva’s Appearance and Dakṣa’s Arrival

Devanagari script

अहं समागतस्तत्र परिवारसमन्वितः । निगमैरागमैर्युक्तो मूर्तिमद्भिर्महाप्रभैः

Transliteration

ahaṃ samāgatastatra parivārasamanvitaḥ | nigamairāgamairyukto mūrtimadbhirmahāprabhaiḥ

Translation

«وقد حضرتُ هناك مصحوبًا بحاشيتي، وكانت النِّگَمات والآگَمات—وهي كتبٌ مقدّسة عظيمة متلألئة—حاضرةً كأنها اتخذت جسدًا مُتجسِّدًا».

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; Pronoun nominative singular

• समागतः: (have) come/arrived
• समागतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle ‘arrived’ used predicatively); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agrees with अहम्

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• परिवार-समन्वितः: accompanied by attendants
• परिवार-समन्वितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिवार (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (परिवारेण समन्वितः = accompanied by retinue) qualifies अहम्

• निगमैः: with the Nigamas (Vedas)
• निगमैः: Sahakārī/Karaṇa (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• आगमैः: with the Āgamas (scriptures)
• आगमैः: Sahakārī/Karaṇa (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• युक्तः: endowed/associated
• युक्तः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle ‘joined/endowed’ used predicatively); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agrees with अहम्

• मूर्तिमद्भिः: with embodied (ones)
• मूर्तिमद्भिः: Saha (सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्तिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/सह), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; qualifies महाप्रभैः

• महा-प्रभैः: with the greatly radiant/mighty ones
• महा-प्रभैः: Saha (सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/सह), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महान्तः प्रभाः/प्रभवः)

Speaker

Lord Śiva (inferred from Satīkhaṇḍa narrative voice describing His divine arrival with retinue and scriptures)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Śiva’s epiphanic arrival is marked by the personified presence of Nigamas (Vedas) and Āgamas (Śaiva revelation), implying reconciliation and hierarchy: Veda as general revelation and Āgama as Śiva’s direct salvific instruction.

Significance: Signals that tīrtha and yajña become truly fruitful when aligned with Śiva’s revealed path (Āgama) and when the Lord Himself bestows anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nigamas (Vedas)
• Agamas

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as the sovereign source and harmonizer of revelation—Veda (Nigama) and Śaiva Āgama—showing that true liberation-oriented practice is grounded in scriptural authority and guided by the Lord’s presence.

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

By depicting scriptures as ‘embodied’ and radiant attendants of Śiva, the verse supports Saguna worship—such as Liṅga-pūjā—where Veda and Āgama jointly prescribe mantra, worship-steps, purity, and devotion as valid paths to Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies aligning one’s worship with Nigama-Āgama injunctions—especially Śiva-mantra japa (notably the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and orderly pūjā to the Liṅga as taught in Śaiva Āgamas.