Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 47

रुद्रस्य रणप्रवेशः तथा दैत्यगणानां बाणवृष्टिः

Rudra Enters the Battlefield; the Daityas’ Arrow-Storm

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा जगदम्बाया वचनं गरुडध्वजः । प्रत्युवाच शिवां नत्वा सांजलिर्नम्रकंधरः

Transliteration

tacchrutvā jagadambāyā vacanaṃ garuḍadhvajaḥ | pratyuvāca śivāṃ natvā sāṃjalirnamrakaṃdharaḥ

Translation

Entendant les paroles de Jagadambā (la Mère de l'univers), Garuḍadhvaja (Viṣṇu) s'inclina devant Śivā et, les mains jointes et le cou humblement courbé, répondit.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object of ‘śrutvā’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• जगदम्बायाः: of Jagadambā (Mother of the world)
• जगदम्बायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगदम्बा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of ‘śrutvā’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• गरुडध्वजः: Garuḍa-bannered (Vishnu)
• गरुडध्वजः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘गरुडः ध्वजः यस्य सः’ (one whose banner is Garuḍa)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) with प्रति-उपसर्ग
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• शिवाम्: Śivā (Pārvatī)
• शिवाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of ‘natvā’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• नत्वा: having bowed (to)
• नत्वा: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• स-अञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• स-अञ्जलिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक) with सह- (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘अञ्जलिः सह’ = ‘with joined palms’

• नम्रकन्धरः: bow-necked, humble
• नम्रकन्धरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कन्धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘नम्रः कन्धरः यस्य सः’ (one whose neck is bowed)

Speaker

Vishnu (Garuḍadhvaja)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the Shaiva teaching that true spiritual authority is recognized through humility: even Viṣṇu responds to the Divine Mother with reverent posture (namra-kaṃdhara) and folded hands, honoring Śakti as the manifest power inseparable from Śiva.

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

By bowing to Śivā (Pārvatī), the verse reinforces Saguna worship in the Shiva Purana: devotion is directed to the divine couple—Śiva as Pati (Lord) and Śakti as His dynamic power—supporting temple and Liṅga worship as worship of the living presence of Śiva with Śakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate practice is añjali (joined palms) and pranāma (bowing) before prayer or mantra-japa—approaching Śiva-Śakti with humility; it complements Shaiva daily worship such as offering to the Liṅga with devotion and respectful speech.