Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

अलकापतेः तपः-लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठा च वरप्राप्तिः / The Lord of Alakā: Austerity, Liṅga-Establishment, and the Receiving of a Boon

Devanagari script

इति देवीगिरं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य प्राह तां प्रभुः । उमे त्वदीयः पुत्रोऽयं न च क्रूरेण चक्षुषा

Transliteration

iti devīgiraṃ śrutvā prahasya prāha tāṃ prabhuḥ | ume tvadīyaḥ putro'yaṃ na ca krūreṇa cakṣuṣā

Translation

Entendant les paroles de la Déesse, le Seigneur sourit et lui dit : «Ô Umā, celui-ci est bien ton propre fils ; ne le regarde pas d’un regard cruel.»

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotation particle (इति-प्रयोगः)

• devī-giram: the goddess’s speech
• devī-giram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक) + gir (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देव्याः गिरम्)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having heard’

• prahasya: having laughed
• prahasya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-has (प्र+हस् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having laughed/smiled’

• prāha: said
• prāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (अह्/आह् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (लिट्, perfect), Prathama puruṣa (3rd/प्रथम), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• prabhuḥ: the Lord
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रभु प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana

• ume: O Umā
• ume: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: umā (उमा प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana (vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana

• tvadīyaḥ: your
• tvadīyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tvadīya (त्वदीय प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; possessive adjective ‘your’ qualifying पुत्रः

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Viṣaya (विषय; subject of identification)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (पुत्र प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• ayam: this
• ayam: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य; apposition to पुत्रः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, negation particle (निषेध)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• krūreṇa: with cruel
• krūreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krūra (क्रूर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃ/Napuṃsaka, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; instrumental ‘with/by’ qualifying चक्षुषा

• cakṣuṣā: with (the) eye; by (one’s) gaze
• cakṣuṣā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakṣus (चक्षुस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Household revelation at Kailāsa: Śiva discloses the ‘ascetic’ as Umā’s own son, transforming suspicion into recognition—anugraha through right knowledge.

Significance: Teaches discernment (viveka) and removal of misapprehension (tirodhāna’s veil) by Śiva’s gracious instruction; promotes harmony in divine household as model for devotees.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati (Uma)

FAQs

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

Shiva’s gentle correction highlights Shaiva dharma: right perception (śuddha-dṛṣṭi) and compassion. The Lord, as Pati, guides emotions toward grace, preventing harshness that binds the soul through karma and resentment.

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

As Saguna Shiva, the compassionate Lord personally instructs Uma, showing that devotion is not only ritual but also refinement of inner attitude. Linga-worship is fulfilled when the devotee’s gaze becomes non-cruel and reverent, reflecting Shiva’s own grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice ahimsā and soften the mind before worship: offer water and bilva to the Shiva-linga while mentally repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating a calm, non-harsh gaze toward all beings.