Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

मृत्युञ्जय-विद्या-प्रादुर्भावः

The Manifestation/Transmission of the Mṛtyuñjaya Vidyā

Devanagari script

काव्यमित्थं तपो घोरं कुर्वन्तं दृढमानसम् । प्रससाद स तं वीक्ष्य भार्गवाय महेश्वरः

Transliteration

kāvyamitthaṃ tapo ghoraṃ kurvantaṃ dṛḍhamānasam | prasasāda sa taṃ vīkṣya bhārgavāya maheśvaraḥ

Translation

ولمّا رأى المهيشڤرا بها‌رغڤا (ابن بهريغو) يؤدي تقشّفًا شديدًا مهيبًا بعزمٍ لا يتزعزع، رضي عنه الربّ ماهيشڤرا وتفضّل عليه برحمته.

Word by Word

• काव्यम्: poeticly/as a poem
• काव्यम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative)

• इत्थम्: thus/in this manner
• इत्थम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• तपः: austerity/penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• घोरम्: terrible/intense
• घोरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (तपः-विशेषण)

• कुर्वन्तम्: doing/performing
• कुर्वन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृढ-मानसम्: firm-minded
• दृढ-मानसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (दृढं मानसं यस्य/दृढं मानसम्), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कुर्वन्तम्-विशेषण

• प्रससाद: became pleased
• प्रससाद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-सद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Purvakala-Kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ईक्ष् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• भार्गवाय: to Bhārgava (son of Bhṛgu)
• भार्गवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhārgava (Kāvya)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights a core Shaiva Siddhānta principle: when the soul (paśu) becomes steady through disciplined tapas and devotion, Lord Śiva (Pati) responds with prasāda—transformative grace that loosens bondage (pāśa) and advances liberation.

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

Maheśvara’s being “pleased” indicates Saguna Śiva’s accessible compassion—worship through liṅga-pūjā, mantra-japa, and vrata becomes fruitful when accompanied by inner firmness (dṛḍha-manas) and sincere austerity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is steady tapas: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), vrata/niyama with purity, and focused meditation on Śiva—performed consistently until grace (prasāda) arises.