Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 45
शुक्रनिग्रहः — The Seizure/Neutralization of Śukra (Kāvya) and the Daityas’ Despondency
शुक्र उवाच । अनंतपादस्त्वमनंतमूर्तिरनंतमूर्द्धांतकरश्शिवश्च । अनंतबाहुः कथमीदृशं त्वां स्तोष्ये ह नुत्यं प्रणिपत्य मूर्ध्ना
śukra uvāca | anaṃtapādastvamanaṃtamūrtiranaṃtamūrddhāṃtakaraśśivaśca | anaṃtabāhuḥ kathamīdṛśaṃ tvāṃ stoṣye ha nutyaṃ praṇipatya mūrdhnā
Śukra sprach: «Du bist der mit unendlichen Füßen; Deine Gestalt ist unendlich. O Śiva, dessen Häupter und Hände ohne Ende sind! Du mit grenzenlosen Armen — wie könnte ich, das Haupt in Niederwerfung, Dich je loben und preisen, Dich, der wahrhaft jenseits allen Maßes ist?»
Śukra
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Mantra: अनंतपादस्त्वमनंतमूर्तिरनंतमूर्द्धांतकरश्शिवश्च । अनंतबाहुः कथमीदृशं त्वां स्तोष्ये ह नुत्यं प्रणिपत्य मूर्ध्ना
Type: stotra
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva, the supreme Pati, is truly infinite and cannot be circumscribed by ordinary speech or thought; the right response of the finite soul is humble surrender (praṇipāta) and devotional praise (stuti), which purifies the heart and turns it toward liberation.
Though Shiva is proclaimed infinite (ananta) and beyond full description, devotees approach Him through accessible Saguna supports like the Śiva-liṅga and stotras; the verse frames such worship as a sincere offering of devotion to the boundless Reality that graciously accepts finite forms of praise.
The verse points to praṇāma (bowing with the head) and stuti-japa—reciting Shiva’s names and hymns with humility; it pairs naturally with daily Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple worship such as offering bhasma and water to the liṅga while contemplating Shiva’s limitless nature.