Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3

शङ्खचूडदूतागमनम् — The Arrival of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Envoy

and Praise of Śiva

Devanagari script

कृत्वा योगासनं दृष्ट्या मुद्रायुक्तं च सस्मितम् । शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशं ज्वलंतं ब्रह्मतेजस

Transliteration

kṛtvā yogāsanaṃ dṛṣṭyā mudrāyuktaṃ ca sasmitam | śuddhasphaṭikasaṃkāśaṃ jvalaṃtaṃ brahmatejasa

Translation

યોગાસન ધારણ કરીને, સ્થિર દૃષ્ટિ અને મુદ્રાથી યુક્ત, મંદ સ્મિતসহ—તે શુદ્ધ સ્ફટિક સમાન દીપ્ત, બ્રહ્મતેજથી જ્વલંત હતો।

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having done’

• योगासनम्: a yogic posture/seat
• योगासनम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (योगस्य आसनम्)

• दृष्ट्या: with (his) gaze
• दृष्ट्या: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• मुद्रायुक्तम्: endowed with (hand) mudrā
• मुद्रायुक्तम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुद्रा + युक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मुद्रया युक्तम्)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Samuccaya/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सस्मितम्: smiling; with a smile
• सस्मितम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + स्मित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (स्मितं यस्य/स्मितसहितम्)

• शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशम्: resembling pure crystal
• शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध + स्फटिक + संकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शुद्धस्फटिकस्य संकाशम् = like pure crystal)

• ज्वलन्तम्: blazing; shining
• ज्वलन्तम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मतेजसा: with divine (brahmanic) radiance
• ब्रह्मतेजसा: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्मणः तेजः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: The depiction of yogāsana, focused dṛṣṭi, and mudrā aligns with contemplative upāsanā: darśana of the Lord as guru is itself anugraha that loosens pāśa (bondage) by awakening right knowledge.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva’s yogic sovereignty: perfect steadiness (āsana), one-pointed awareness (dṛṣṭi), and sanctifying gesture (mudrā) culminating in brahma-tejas—pure consciousness shining through form, guiding devotees toward liberation.

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

The verse depicts Saguna Shiva as the visible locus of the Supreme radiance (brahma-tejas). In Linga-worship, this same transcendent light is approached through a concrete symbol, training the mind to perceive the formless through a sacred form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a stable seated posture, keep a calm focused gaze, and meditate with a simple mudrā while contemplating Shiva’s pure, crystal-like inner light; this supports japa and dhyāna (including remembrance of the Panchākṣarī, if practiced).