Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36

रुद्र-विष्णोः ऐकत्व-उपदेशः तथा धर्म-आज्ञा

Instruction on Rudra–Viṣṇu Unity and Divine Injunctions

Devanagari script

ततस्स भगवाञ्छंभुः कृपया भक्तवत्सलः । दृष्टया संपश्यतो शीघ्रं तत्रैवांतरधीयतः

Transliteration

tatassa bhagavāñchaṃbhuḥ kṛpayā bhaktavatsalaḥ | dṛṣṭayā saṃpaśyato śīghraṃ tatraivāṃtaradhīyataḥ

Translation

Dann verschwand Bhagavān Śambhu—aus Mitgefühl, stets den Bhaktas zugetan—während sie noch schauten, sogleich an eben jenem Ort und entzog sich ihren Blicken.

Word by Word

• tatas: thereafter
• tatas: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), तदर्थे अव्ययम्; अर्थे—अनन्तरम्/ततः (thereafter)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेष्य (appositive to śambhuḥ)

• śambhuḥ: Śambhu (Śiva)
• śambhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• kṛpayā: by compassion
• kṛpayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ/साधने (by/through compassion)

• bhakta-vatsalaḥ: affectionate to devotees
• bhakta-vatsalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भक्तानां वत्सलः)

• dṛṣṭayā: by (his) glance
• dṛṣṭayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; साधने (by a glance)

• saṃpaśyataḥ: of (him/them) who was watching
• saṃpaśyataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ√paś (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘संपश्यत्’ (seeing) → ‘संपश्यतः’ (of one who is seeing)

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• antaradhīyataḥ: (he) disappeared
• antaradhīyataḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: antarā√dhā (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमा (3rd person), एकवचन; ‘अन्तरधीयते’ (disappears) → लङ् ‘अन्तरधीयत’ (disappeared)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as bhakta-vatsala—the Lord whose anugraha (grace) governs revelation and withdrawal. His disappearing is not rejection but a compassionate divine act that matures the devotee’s longing, steadiness, and inner remembrance of Pati.

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

Saguna Śiva may appear and withdraw from direct perception, but the devotee’s worship continues through stable supports like the Śiva-liṅga, mantra, and pūjā—forms through which His presence remains accessible even when vision or extraordinary experience ceases.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with devotional focus; when experiences come and go, continue daily pūjā/abhiṣeka and meditation on Śambhu’s compassionate presence without attachment to visions.