Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 48

विष्णोः स्तुतिः—शिवसतीरक्षावचनम्

Viṣṇu’s Hymn and the Petition for Śiva–Satī’s Protection

Devanagari script

अथ विष्णुर्महेशातिप्रियः कार्यविचक्षणः । तमेवंवादिनं रुद्रं तुष्टाव प्रणतस्सुधीः

Transliteration

atha viṣṇurmaheśātipriyaḥ kāryavicakṣaṇaḥ | tamevaṃvādinaṃ rudraṃ tuṣṭāva praṇatassudhīḥ

Translation

Alors Viṣṇu—très cher à Maheśa et avisé dans l’action—s’inclina avec un esprit clair et sage, et, satisfait, loua Rudra qui avait parlé ainsi.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/अनन्तर्यवाचक-अव्ययम् (particle: ‘then/now’)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• महेश-अति-प्रियः: very dear to Maheśa
• महेश-अति-प्रियः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक) + अति (अव्यय-पूर्वपद) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (सम्बन्ध-निर्देशकः: ‘exceedingly dear to Maheśa’)

• कार्य-विचक्षणः: skilled in affairs
• कार्य-विचक्षणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (‘skilled in matters/actions’)

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

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: ‘thus’)

• वादिनम्: speaking (so)
• वादिनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वद् (धातु) → वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-निपातन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्; ताच्छीलिक-प्रत्ययः ‘इन्’ (agentive: ‘one who speaks’)

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्

• तुष्टाव: praised
• तुष्टाव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• प्रणतः: bowed down
• प्रणतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र√नम् (धातु) → प्रणत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; भूतकृदन्तः—क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (PPP ‘bowed down’)

• सुधीः: the wise one
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक) = सु (अव्यय-पूर्वपद) + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (‘good’ + ‘intellect’ → ‘wise man’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Rudra
• Mahesha

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva principle that true wisdom expresses itself as humility and devotion: even Viṣṇu, honored as a great deity, bows to Rudra and praises Him, affirming Śiva’s supreme, grace-bestowing lordship (Pati) and the devotee’s surrender.

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

The verse models Saguna-upāsanā—approaching Śiva in a personal, worshipful way through praise (stotra) and prostration (praṇāma). Such reverence is the devotional mood behind Linga worship, where the devotee offers salutations and hymns to the manifest Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is stotra-pāṭha with praṇāma: recite Śiva hymns and bow in surrender. In Shaiva practice this pairs naturally with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple offerings before the Śiva-liṅga.