Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

अथ शक्रादयो देवा लोकपालास्सुचेतसः । तुष्टुवुः शंकरं देवं प्रसन्नमुखपंकजम्

Transliteration

atha śakrādayo devā lokapālāssucetasaḥ | tuṣṭuvuḥ śaṃkaraṃ devaṃ prasannamukhapaṃkajam

Translation

Alors Indra et les autres dieux — gardiens des mondes, l’esprit limpide et dévot — louèrent le Seigneur Śaṅkara, le Divin, dont le visage, tel un lotus, était serein et plein de grâce.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb/particle)

• शक्र-आदयः: Indra and others
• शक्र-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—शक्रः आदिः येषाम् (बहुव्रीहि-भावार्थः; रूढ ‘Indra and others’)

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• लोकपालाः: guardians of the worlds
• लोकपालाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—लोकस्य पालाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• सुचेतसः: of good mind, wise
• सुचेतसः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुचेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—सु + चेतस् (कर्मधारय)

• तुष्टुवुः: praised
• तुष्टुवुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रसन्न-मुख-पङ्कजम्: whose serene face is like a lotus
• प्रसन्न-मुख-पङ्कजम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + पङ्कज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—प्रसन्नं मुखं (कर्मधारय) + पङ्कजम् इव (उपमान-तत्पुरुष/रूढ)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra
• Lokapalas

FAQs

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

It highlights that even the highest cosmic authorities (Indra and the Lokapālas) attain stability and grace by praising Śiva with a purified mind—showing Śiva as the supreme Pati who bestows auspiciousness (śaṃ) and inner clarity.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna devotion—praising Śaṅkara’s gracious, lotus-like face—yet this devotion ultimately points to the same supreme reality worshipped as the Liṅga: the compassionate Lord who becomes accessible through praise and surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily Śiva-stuti (hymns) or japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a sucetas (clear, disciplined mind), especially on Mahāśivarātri, optionally accompanied by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva aids.