Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

तुलसी-शङ्खचूडोपाख्यानम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and the Tulasī Episode

Prelude to Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Fall

Devanagari script

ततः प्रादुर्बभूवाथ शंकरो भक्तवत्सलः । हरिणा प्रणतश्चासीत्संनुतो विनयेन सः

Transliteration

tataḥ prādurbabhūvātha śaṃkaro bhaktavatsalaḥ | hariṇā praṇataścāsītsaṃnuto vinayena saḥ

Translation

Da offenbarte sich Śaṅkara, stets liebevoll zu Seinen Verehrern. Hari (Viṣṇu) verneigte sich vor Ihm und brachte Ihm in Demut ehrfürchtiges Lob dar.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), तस्मात्/ततः-प्रयोगः; adverb (thereupon/then)

• प्रादुर्: manifestly, forth
• प्रादुर्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रादुर् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), उपसर्गवत्/क्रियाविशेषणम्; adverb (manifestly, forth)

• बभूव: became/appeared
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपदम्

• अथ: and then
• अथ: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), निपात (particle)

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• भक्तवत्सलः: affectionate to devotees
• भक्तवत्सलः: Karta-anvayi Viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृअन्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भक्तानां वत्सलः); adjective qualifying शंकरः

• हरिणा: by Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• प्रणतः: bowed down
• प्रणतः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु) → प्रणत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective of सः (Śaṅkara)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• संनुतः: praised/lauded
• संनुतः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + नु (धातु) → संनुत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective of सः

• विनयेन: with humility
• विनयेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; manner/instrument

• सः: he (Śaṅkara)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as bhaktavatsala—He becomes manifest to protect and uplift devotees—teaching that sincere surrender and humility invite divine grace and remove bondage (pāśa) under the Lord’s lordship (Pati).

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

Śaṅkara’s ‘manifestation’ underscores Saguna Śiva—God approachable through form, praise, and devotion. In Śaiva practice this aligns with worship of the Śiva-liṅga, where the devotee offers namaskāra and stuti, experiencing the Lord’s presence through consecrated form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse suggests vinaya-yukta namaskāra (humble prostration) and stuti (praise). Practically, one may do liṅga-pūjā with pañcākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and offer reverent salutations, cultivating humility as the inner discipline.