Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

शिवस्य तपोऽनुष्ठानम् — Śiva’s Austerity and Meditation at Himavat

Gaṅgā-Region

Devanagari script

सगणं तन्तथा दृष्ट्वा गिरिराजं वृषध्वजः । उवाच ध्यानयोगस्थः स्मयन्निव जगत्पतिः

Transliteration

sagaṇaṃ tantathā dṛṣṭvā girirājaṃ vṛṣadhvajaḥ | uvāca dhyānayogasthaḥ smayanniva jagatpatiḥ

Translation

Als der König der Berge mit seinem Gefolge erschien, sprach der Bullenbanner-Träger (Śiva), im Yoga der Meditation verweilend, der Herr der Welten, gleichsam lächelnd.

Word by Word

• स-गणम्: with retinue
• स-गणम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (with attendants); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (of गिरिराजम्)

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म/सम्बन्ध (Correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; correlating with तथा (so/that)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb: thus/so)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Pūrvakriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having seen’

• गिरिराजम्: the king of mountains (Himālaya)
• गिरिराजम्: कर्म (Karma: object of दृष्ट्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिराज (प्रातिपदिक: गिरि + राज)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थ (राजा गिरिणाम् / गिरिणां राजा); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• वृषध्वजः: the one whose banner bears the bull (Śiva)
• वृषध्वजः: कर्ता (Karta: subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषध्वज (प्रातिपदिक: वृष + ध्वज)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (यस्य ध्वजो वृषः सः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• ध्यानयोगस्थः: situated in meditative yoga
• ध्यानयोगस्थः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यानयोग (प्रातिपदिक: ध्यान + योग) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (ध्यानयोगे स्थितः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of वृषध्वजः/जगत्पतिः)

• स्मयन्: smiling
• स्मयन्: कर्ता (Karta: concomitant action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मि (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• इव: as if
• इव: उपमा (Upamā marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison: as if)

• जगत्पतिः: lord of the world
• जगत्पतिः: कर्ता (Karta: subject/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत्पति (प्रातिपदिक: जगत् + पति)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जगतः पतिः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; apposition to वृषध्वजः

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Himalaya (Giriraja)

FAQs

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

The verse portrays Śiva as Jagatpati—supreme yet accessible—who remains inwardly established in dhyāna-yoga while engaging the world with calm grace. It highlights the Siddhānta theme that the Lord is both transcendent (steady in yoga) and immanent (speaking compassionately to devotees).

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

By naming Śiva as Vṛṣadhvaja and Jagatpati, the text emphasizes Saguna recognition—devotees approach the Lord through auspicious attributes and forms, which are commonly contemplated in Liṅga worship. The meditative poise suggests that external worship culminates in inner absorption in Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The key takeaway is dhyāna (meditative contemplation) on Śiva’s auspicious form—steady mind, gentle inwardness, and devotion. Practically, one may combine japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with quiet meditation, letting the mind rest in Śiva as Jagatpati.