Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

विष्णुचेष्टितवर्णनम् / Account of Viṣṇu’s Stratagem and Its Aftermath

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य महेशो हि वचनं त्रिदिवौकसाम् । प्रत्युवाच महालीलस्स्वच्छन्दस्तान्कृतांजलीन्

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | ityākarṇya maheśo hi vacanaṃ tridivaukasām | pratyuvāca mahālīlassvacchandastānkṛtāṃjalīn

Translation

সনৎকুমার বললেন: ত্রিদিববাসীদের কথা শুনে, মহালীলাময় মহেশ, স্বচ্ছন্দ ও স্বাধীনে, করজোড়ে দাঁড়ানো দেবগণকে উত্তর দিলেন।

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत् + कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्यसमाप्ति (Quotation marker/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √कर्ण्/√श्रु (धात्वर्थ) + ल्यप् (कृत्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having heard’

• महेशः: Maheśa (Śiva)
• महेशः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/कारणबोधक अव्यय (indeed/for)

• वचनम्: speech, words
• वचनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्रिदिव-ओकसाम्: of the dwellers in heaven (gods)
• त्रिदिव-ओकसाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदिव + ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—त्रिदिवे ओकः येषां ते (heaven-dwellers)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• महा-लीलः: the great-sporting one (Śiva)
• महा-लीलः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + लील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—महती लीलाऽस्य (he whose play is great)

• स्वच्छन्दः: self-willed, free
• स्वच्छन्दः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + छन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—स्वच्छन्दः (acting by his own will)

• तान्: them
• तान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• कृत-अञ्जलीन्: with folded hands
• कृत-अञ्जलीन्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (√कृ धातु + क्त) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—कृताञ्जलिः (one who has made añjali), i.e., with folded hands

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as Pati—the sovereign Lord—who responds from his own supreme freedom (svacchanda). The devas’ joined palms model humility, showing that grace and guidance flow when beings approach the Lord with reverence and surrender.

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

Although the verse is narrative, it reflects Saguna Śiva as Maheśa who hears prayers and gives a direct response. In Linga worship, devotees similarly approach with añjali (folded hands), trusting the Lord’s compassionate, sovereign will to bestow protection and right direction.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate takeaway is the practice of añjali-bhāva (prayerful surrender) during worship—standing before Śiva (Linga or icon) with folded hands while reciting a mantra such as the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” seeking guidance with humility.