Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42

विष्णूत्पत्तिवर्णनम्

Description of the Origin/Manifestation of Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनम्प्राह शंकरः प्रहसन्प्रभुः । पुरुषं तं महेशानो वाचा मेघगभीरया

Transliteration

tacchrutvā vacanamprāha śaṃkaraḥ prahasanprabhuḥ | puruṣaṃ taṃ maheśāno vācā meghagabhīrayā

Translation

Ayant entendu ces paroles, le Seigneur Śaṅkara, souriant, prit la parole. Ce MahāĪśāna s’adressa à l’homme d’une voix profonde comme les nuées du tonnerre.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (speech/statement)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having heard)

• वचनम्: words; statement
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राह: said; spoke
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह्/अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रहसन्: smiling; laughing
• प्रहसन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हस् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘शंकरः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Samanadhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘शंकरः’ इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्

• पुरुषम्: the person
• पुरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तम्: that
• तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेषणम् (to ‘पुरुषम्’)

• महेशानः: Maheśāna
• महेशानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘शंकरः’ इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्

• वाचा: with speech; by voice
• वाचा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• मेघ-गभीरया: deep like a cloud (thunderous)
• मेघ-गभीरया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + गभीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to ‘वाचा’); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मेघवत् गभीरः)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Śaṅkara / Maheśāna)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who responds with calm mastery—smiling—yet with the gravity of divine authority, indicating compassionate guidance combined with sovereign power over creation and beings.

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

By portraying Śiva as Śaṅkara/Maheśāna who speaks and engages in the world, the text emphasizes Saguna Śiva—approachable and narratively present—supporting devotional worship where the Lord is invoked and responds, as in Linga-upāsanā and Purāṇic devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate śravaṇa and smaraṇa—listening to Śiva-kathā and meditating on the Lord’s presence—while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a steady, grave awareness mirroring the verse’s tone of divine profundity.