Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 72

गजासुरतपः–देवलोकक्षोभः

Gajāsura’s Austerities and the Disturbance of the Worlds

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तं चरितं शंभोर्भक्तवात्सल्यसूचकम् । स्वर्ग्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं धनधान्यप्रवर्द्धनम्

Transliteration

ityuktaṃ caritaṃ śaṃbhorbhaktavātsalyasūcakam | svargyaṃ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṃ dhanadhānyapravarddhanam

Translation

هكذا رُويت السيرة المقدّسة لشمبهو (Śambhu)، كاشفةً عن حنانه ومودّته لعبّاده المخلصين. وهي تمنح ثوابًا سماويًا، وسمعةً طيبة، وطولَ عمر، وزيادةَ المال والحبوب—رخاءً بعناية الربّ وفضله.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotative particle (इति-प्रयोगः)

• uktam: said, spoken
• uktam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kridanta (कृदन्त), past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• caritam: deed, story, conduct
• caritam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carita (प्रातिपदिक; from चर् धातु)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śambhoḥ: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• śambhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhakta-vātsalya-sūcakam: indicating affection for devotees
• bhakta-vātsalya-sūcakam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + vātsalya (प्रातिपदिक) + sūcaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: 'bhaktānāṃ vātsalyam sūcakam'

• svargyam: heavenly; leading to heaven
• svargyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svargya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• yaśasyam: fame-giving
• yaśasyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yaśasya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āyuṣyam: life-prolonging
• āyuṣyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āyuṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dhana-dhānya-pravarddhanam: increasing wealth and grain
• dhana-dhānya-pravarddhanam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक) + dhānya (प्रातिपदिक) + pravarddhana (प्रातिपदिक; from वर्ध् धातु)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: 'dhanaṃ ca dhānyaṃ ca pravarddhayati'

Speaker

Sūta Goswāmī (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Śravaṇa of Śiva-carita is framed as a grace-bearing act (anugraha) that yields both laukika prosperity (dhana-dhānya, āyuḥ, yaśas) and svargya puṇya, preparing the paśu for higher pursuit of liberation.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It functions as a phalaśruti: the Purāṇa affirms that hearing/reciting Śiva’s deeds with devotion reveals His bhakta-vātsalya and yields both worldly welfare and higher merit, ultimately orienting the listener toward Śiva’s grace.

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

By praising Śambhu’s compassionate, personal relationship with devotees, it supports Saguna Śiva-upāsanā—approaching Śiva as the accessible Lord who responds to bhakti, often worshiped through the Liṅga as His merciful, enduring presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa and pāṭha (listening/recitation) of Śiva-carita with devotion; it may be paired with simple daily Śiva worship such as chanting the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offering water to the Liṅga.