Shloka 26

Devanagari script

सुप्रणम्य भयाविष्टः संस्तूय च विचेतनः । अवोचद्देवदेवं तं विष्णुं स्वजनवत्सलम्

Transliteration

supraṇamya bhayāviṣṭaḥ saṃstūya ca vicetanaḥ | avocaddevadevaṃ taṃ viṣṇuṃ svajanavatsalam

Translation

Overwhelmed with fear, he bowed down deeply; and though shaken and scarcely composed, he praised and then spoke to that Lord of gods—Viṣṇu—ever affectionate toward His own devotees.

Word by Word

• सु-प्रणम्य: having bowed well
• सु-प्रणम्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु) + सु- (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: नम् (1P), उपसर्ग: प्र-, अर्थे: ‘well’ (सु-)

• भय-आविष्टः: overcome by fear
• भय-आविष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + आविष्ट (कृदन्त, √विश्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भयेन आविष्टः = possessed/overcome by fear)

• संस्तूय: having praised
• संस्तूय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्तु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: स्तु (2P), उपसर्ग: सम्-

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• विचेतनः: bewildered; senseless
• विचेतनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचेतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (state/condition)

• अवोचत्: said
• अवोचत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; धातु: वच् (2P)

• देव-देवम्: the God of gods
• देव-देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (देवानां देवः)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• स्वजन-वत्सलम्: affectionate to his own people
• स्वजन-वत्सलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वजन (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वजनानां वत्सलः = affectionate to one’s own people)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode within Rudrasaṃhitā to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Śrī (Lakṣmī)

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): when the ego is shaken by fear or karma, the seeker turns to the Divine with humility (praṇāma), praise (stuti), and honest speech—an inner posture valued in Shaiva practice as preparation for grace.

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

Even when the narrative names Viṣṇu, the Shiva Purana repeatedly teaches that approaching the Saguna form with reverence—through bowing and stuti—purifies the mind; the same devotional method applies to Liṅga-worship, where humility and heartfelt prayer are primary.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a simple upacāra: offer praṇāma, recite a short stotra, and then speak your sankalpa/prayer; in Shaiva usage, this pairs naturally with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to steady a mind made restless by fear.