Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40
दधीच-शाप-हेतु-वर्णनम् / The Cause of Dadhīca’s Curse
Explaining Viṣṇu’s Role at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
तं दृष्ट्वा स्वप्रभुं शंभुं स मुमोद मुनीश्वरः । प्रणम्य विधिवद्भक्त्या तुष्टाव सुकृतांजलिः
taṃ dṛṣṭvā svaprabhuṃ śaṃbhuṃ sa mumoda munīśvaraḥ | praṇamya vidhivadbhaktyā tuṣṭāva sukṛtāṃjaliḥ
En voyant Śambhu—son propre Seigneur—le grand sage exulta. S’étant prosterné selon le rite avec dévotion, les mains jointes en hommage, il Le loua.
Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Models the ideal devotee-response to darśana: ānanda (rejoicing), praṇāma, and stuti—core behaviors of tīrtha-yātrā and temple worship.
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse teaches that true spiritual response to Śiva-darśana is inner joy (ānanda), humility (praṇāma), and heartfelt praise (stuti). In Shaiva thought, such vidhivat-bhakti aligns the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati), loosening bondage (pāśa) through devotion and surrender.
It reflects Saguna worship: approaching Śambhu as the personal Lord, offering respectful namaskāra and añjali, and praising Him. The same devotional posture applies in Liṅga-pūjā—meeting Śiva through form, reverence, and stuti—so the mind becomes fit for grace.
It suggests vidhivat upacāra in brief: bowing/prostration, añjali-mudrā, and verbal praise or mantra-japa. A practical takeaway is to begin Śiva-pūjā with namaskāra and then recite a Śiva-stuti or the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady devotion.