Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

गिरिजातपः-परीक्षा तथा सप्तर्षि-आह्वानम्

Girijā’s Austerity-Test and the Summoning of the Seven Sages

Devanagari script

प्रणम्य तं महेशानं तुष्टुवुर्हर्षनिर्भराः । वाण्या गद्गदया बद्धकरा विनतकंधराः

Transliteration

praṇamya taṃ maheśānaṃ tuṣṭuvurharṣanirbharāḥ | vāṇyā gadgadayā baddhakarā vinatakaṃdharāḥ

Translation

Having bowed down to Maheshāna, the Great Lord, they praised Him, overflowing with joy—speaking with voices choked by emotion, their palms joined in reverence, and their necks bent in humble submission.

Word by Word

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive) “having bowed”

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• महेशानम्: Maheshāna (Śiva)
• महेशानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तुष्टुवुः: praised
• तुष्टुवुः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपदम्

• हर्ष-निर्भराः: filled with joy
• हर्ष-निर्भराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्भर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी/तृतीया-भावः) “हर्षेण निर्भराः/हर्षनिर्भराः”

• वाण्या: with speech/voice
• वाण्या: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• गद्गदया: stammering; choked (voice)
• गद्गदया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गद्गद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणं वाण्याः

• बद्ध-कराः: with joined hands
• बद्ध-कराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √बन्ध्) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः “बद्धाः कराः येषाम्/बद्धकराः” (hands joined)

• विनत-कन्धराः: with bowed necks
• विनत-कन्धराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √नम्) + कन्धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः “विनता कन्धरा येषाम्/विनतकन्धराः” (necks bowed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents bhakti as embodied surrender—bowing, joining the palms, and praising Shiva with a heart overflowing in devotion—showing the soul’s humility before Pati (Lord Shiva), the giver of grace.

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

The verse describes direct devotional approach to Maheshāna in a personal (saguṇa) mode—through pranama and stuti—exactly the attitude cultivated in Linga-worship where reverence, praise, and surrender invite Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice namaskara with añjali (folded hands) and recite Shiva-stuti or the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady humility, allowing emotion to mature into focused devotion rather than distraction.