Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44

दिव्य-भवन-छत्र-निर्माणः तथा देवसमाह्वानम्

Divine Pavilion and Canopy; Summoning the Gods

Devanagari script

गत्वा शंभुसमीपं च प्रणनाम शिवं हृदा । विषण्णवदना शोकव्याकुला विगतप्रभा

Transliteration

gatvā śaṃbhusamīpaṃ ca praṇanāma śivaṃ hṛdā | viṣaṇṇavadanā śokavyākulā vigataprabhā

Translation

S’étant approchée de Śambhu, elle se prosterna devant le Seigneur Śiva de tout son cœur. Son visage était abattu ; accablée de chagrin, elle avait perdu son éclat.

Word by Word

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त), from √गम्; expresses prior action

• śaṃbhu-samīpam: near Śambhu
• śaṃbhu-samīpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक) + samīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘शम्भोः समीपम्’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• praṇanāma: bowed down
• praṇanāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• śivam: to Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• hṛdā: with (her) heart
• hṛdā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• viṣaṇṇa-vadanā: with a dejected face
• viṣaṇṇa-vadanā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣaṇṇa (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘विषण्णं वदनं यस्याः सा’ (as descriptive compound)

• śoka-vyākulā: distressed by grief
• śoka-vyākulā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + vyākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘शोकेन व्याकुला’

• vigata-prabhā: with lost radiance
• vigata-prabhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vigata (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘विगता प्रभा यस्याः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

It shows the Shaiva Siddhanta mood of śaraṇāgati (surrender): when the soul is shaken by grief, it turns to Pati—Lord Śiva—bowing with the heart, seeking refuge and restoration of inner light.

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

Sati’s act of approaching Śambhu and offering pranama reflects Saguna-upāsanā—devotion to Shiva as the compassionate Lord who receives the devotee’s bowed heart, just as worship before the Liṅga externalizes inner surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is heartfelt namaskāra to Śiva with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), offering one’s sorrow inwardly; if performed ritually, it may be paired with calm dhyāna before the Liṅga and a brief prayer for śānti.