Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

विष्णुचेष्टितवर्णनम् / Account of Viṣṇu’s Stratagem and Its Aftermath

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । अथ ब्रह्मादयो देवा हर्षादुत्फुल्ललोचनाः । प्रणम्य शिरसा रुद्रं शशंसुर्विष्णुचेष्टितम्

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | atha brahmādayo devā harṣādutphullalocanāḥ | praṇamya śirasā rudraṃ śaśaṃsurviṣṇuceṣṭitam

Translation

Sanatkumāra said: Then Brahmā and the other gods, their eyes widened with joy, bowed their heads to Rudra and praised the deed performed by Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• sanat-kumāraḥ: Sanatkumāra
• sanat-kumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanat + kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) proper name; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), discourse particle (निपात) meaning 'then/now'

• brahmādayaḥ: Brahmā and others
• brahmādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmā + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष): brahmā ādiḥ yeṣām te; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); apposition to brahmādayaḥ

• harṣāt: from joy
• harṣāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: harṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन); cause

• utphulla-locanāḥ: with blossomed/widened eyes
• utphulla-locanāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: utphulla + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय): utphullāni locanāni yeṣām; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन) qualifying devāḥ

• praṇamya: having bowed
• praṇamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + nam (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā (क्त्वा) absolutive (अव्ययकृदन्त), prior action

• śirasā: with (their) head
• śirasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• rudram: Rudra
• rudram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaśaṃsuḥ: praised / proclaimed
• śaśaṃsuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śaṃs (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• viṣṇu-ceṣṭitam: Viṣṇu’s deed/act
• viṣṇu-ceṣṭitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu + ceṣṭita (प्रातिपदिक); ceṣṭita < ceṣṭ (धातु) क्त (ppp)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष): viṣṇoḥ ceṣṭitam; Kr̥danta used as noun, Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); object of śaśaṃsuḥ

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights that even Brahmā and the devas approach Rudra with humility, showing that true auspiciousness arises through surrender to Shiva (Pati) and reverent recognition of dharmic action.

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

The verse depicts Saguna worship—bowing to Rudra with the head—mirroring how devotees honor Shiva in embodied form (including the Linga) through physical reverence and praise.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is implied: perform praṇāma to Shiva, followed by stuti (praise). In Shaiva practice this can be paired with japa of the Panchakshara mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” to internalize devotion.