Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29

संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇanam) — “Narration of Sandhyā’s Austerity and Encounter with Śiva”

Devanagari script

हिमानीतर्जितांभोजसदृशं वदनं तदा । निरीक्ष्य कृपयाविष्टो हरः प्रोवाच तामिदम्

Transliteration

himānītarjitāṃbhojasadṛśaṃ vadanaṃ tadā | nirīkṣya kṛpayāviṣṭo haraḥ provāca tāmidam

Translation

Da sah Hara ihr Antlitz—gleich einem Lotus, der unter der Kälte des Reifs erschlafft—und von Mitgefühl ergriffen sprach er zu ihr diese Worte.

Word by Word

• हिम-आनीत-र्जित-अम्भोज-सदृशम्: like a lotus whitened by snow
• हिम-आनीत-र्जित-अम्भोज-सदृशम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिम (प्रातिपदिक) + आनीत (कृदन्त, √नी) + र्जित (कृदन्त, √र्ज्) + अम्भोज (प्रातिपदिक) + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘हिमेन आनीतं (snow-brought) र्जितं (whitened/brightened) अम्भोजं (lotus) सदृशम्’

• वदनम्: face
• वदनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• निरीक्ष्य: having observed
• निरीक्ष्य: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive): ‘having looked at’

• कृपया: with compassion
• कृपया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), तृतीया (Instr. 3), एकवचन (sg.)

• आविष्टः: filled/overcome
• आविष्टः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); ‘entered/possessed (by)’

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• प्रोवाच: said
• प्रोवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद; irregular perfect form

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); object of ‘said’ = ‘this (speech)’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the scene; the spoken words are by Lord Shiva/Hara)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati (the compassionate Lord) who responds to the devotee’s inner distress with grace; divine compassion is shown as the doorway through which the bound soul (paśu) is steadied and guided toward auspiciousness.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Hara as a personal, responsive Lord—whose mercy comforts and instructs. In Linga worship, this same compassionate presence is approached through reverent attention, surrender, and listening to Śiva’s guidance (śiva-ājñā).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is karuṇā-bhāvanā (cultivating compassion) and śaraṇāgati (surrender): sit before a Śiva-liṅga, chant “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with steady breath, and mentally offer one’s sorrow to Śiva, seeking his instruction and protection.