Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 45

शिवानुकम्पा, ब्रह्मणो निर्भयत्वं च (Śiva’s Compassion and Brahmā’s Fearlessness)

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नंतरे दक्षो विनयावनतस्सुधीः । सांजलिर्नतकः प्रीत्या तुष्टाव वृषभध्वजम्

Transliteration

etasminnaṃtare dakṣo vinayāvanatassudhīḥ | sāṃjalirnatakaḥ prītyā tuṣṭāva vṛṣabhadhvajam

Translation

Meanwhile, the wise Dakṣa—bowed down in humility—joined his palms, bent low with reverence, and, with affectionate devotion, praised Lord Śiva, the One whose banner bears the bull.

Word by Word

• etasmin: in this
• etasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• antare: interval/time
• antare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘etasmin’ इति सह (etasmin antare = in the meantime)

• dakṣaḥ: Dakṣa
• dakṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vinaya-avanataḥ: bowed in humility
• vinaya-avanataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vinaya + avanata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (vinayena avanataḥ = bowed down with humility)

• sudhīḥ: the wise one
• sudhīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (su + dhī = good-minded/wise)

• sa-añjaliḥ: with folded hands
• sa-añjaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (saha añjalinā = with joined palms)

• natakaḥ: bowing
• natakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nataka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘nata’ अर्थे (one who bows)

• prītyā: with affection/out of love
• prītyā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेतौ/भावे (instrumental of feeling: out of affection)

• tuṣṭāva: praised
• tuṣṭāva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: stu (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; रूपम्: तुष्टाव (he praised)

• vṛṣabha-dhvajam: the Bull-bannered (Śiva)
• vṛṣabha-dhvajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣabha + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (vṛṣabhaḥ dhvajaḥ yasya = whose banner is the bull)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It highlights Śaiva siddhānta’s core mood of surrender: even a powerful figure like Dakṣa approaches Śiva through vinaya (humility), añjali (reverent offering), and stuti (praise), indicating that grace arises from devotion rather than ego.

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

Dakṣa’s visible gestures—folded hands and bowing—reflect saguna upāsanā (devotion to Shiva with attributes). Such embodied reverence naturally extends to Liṅga worship, where the devotee offers salutations, prayers, and heartfelt praise to the manifest symbol of Pati (the Lord).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice añjali and namaskāra before Śiva (or the Śiva-liṅga), then recite a short stotra or the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a humble, affectionate mind.