Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

दक्षयज्ञ-प्रसङ्गे देवतानां आश्वासनं तथा दण्डविधानम् | Consolation of the Devas and the Ordinance of Consequences in the Dakṣa-Yajña Episode

Devanagari script

विशिरस्कं च तं दृष्ट्वा शंकरो लोकशंकरः । वीरभद्रमुवाचाग्रे विहसन्मुनिसत्तम

Transliteration

viśiraskaṃ ca taṃ dṛṣṭvā śaṃkaro lokaśaṃkaraḥ | vīrabhadramuvācāgre vihasanmunisattama

Translation

Le voyant décapité, Śaṅkara—bienfaiteur et dispensateur d’auspice pour les mondes—sourit et, devant tous, s’adressa à Vīrabhadra.

Word by Word

• viśiraskam: headless
• viśiraskam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); upasarga-pūrvaka-viśeṣaṇa

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात) conjunction

• tam: him/that one
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; sarvanāma

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (क्त्वा), Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त), pūrvakāla-kriyā (prior action)

• śaṃkaraḥ: Śaṅkara
• śaṃkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana

• lokaśaṃkaraḥ: benefactor of the worlds
• lokaśaṃkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka + śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘lokānāṃ śaṃkaraḥ’

• vīrabhadram: Vīrabhadra
• vīrabhadram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra + bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) proper name

• uvāca: said/spoke
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्) Perfect, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• agre: in front/at the fore
• agre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; deśa-kāla-adhikaraṇa-artha (place/time adverb)

• vihasan: smiling/laughing
• vihasan: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-has (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya (शतृ), Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle), pumliṅga prathamā ekavacana (agreeing with subject)

• munisattama: O best of sages
• munisattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Sambodhana (vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘munīnām sattamaḥ’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Virabhadra

FAQs

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

Even after the act of destruction, Śiva is described as loka-śaṅkara—auspicious for all—showing that his fierce acts are also compassionate, restoring dharma and guiding beings toward purification and liberation.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva: personally present, smiling, and speaking. Devotees worship the Liṅga as this same Śiva—whose grace and governance remain steady even when he manifests terrible forms for dharma’s protection.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind in japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and cultivate śaraṇāgati (refuge in Śiva), remembering him as loka-śaṅkara—benevolent even when events appear severe.