Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

शुक्रोत्पत्तिः तथा महेश्वरदर्शनम् (Śukra’s Emergence and the Vision of Maheśvara)

Devanagari script

गूढव्रतं गुप्तमंत्रं गंभीरं भावगोचरम् । अणिमादिगुणाधारत्रिलोक्यैश्वर्य्यदायकम्

Transliteration

gūḍhavrataṃ guptamaṃtraṃ gaṃbhīraṃ bhāvagocaram | aṇimādiguṇādhāratrilokyaiśvaryyadāyakam

Translation

આ ગૂઢ વ્રત અને ગુપ્ત મંત્ર છે—અતિ ગંભીર, અંતર્ભક્તિથી જ ગ્રહ્ય. તે અણિમા આદિ સિદ્ધિઓનો આધાર છે અને ત્રિલોકમાં ઐશ્વર્ય તથા સમૃદ્ધિ આપે છે.

Word by Word

• gūḍha-vratam: having a hidden vow
• gūḍha-vratam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gūḍha (कृदन्त/क्त) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण-समास (कर्मधारय)

• gupta-mantram: with a secret mantra
• gupta-mantram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gupta (कृदन्त/क्त) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण-समास (कर्मधारय)

• gambhīram: deep, profound
• gambhīram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gambhīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• bhāva-gocaram: within the range of feeling/experience
• bhāva-gocaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + gocara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भावस्य गोचरः)

• aṇimā-ādi-guṇa-ādhāra-trilokī-aiśvarya-dāyakam: the giver of sovereignty over the three worlds, the support of qualities like aṇimā
• aṇimā-ādi-guṇa-ādhāra-trilokī-aiśvarya-dāyakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṇimā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + trilokī (प्रातिपदिक) + aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक) + dāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (अणिमादीनां गुणानाम् आधारः; त्रिलोक्याः ऐश्वर्यं ददाति इति)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a sthala account; it describes esoteric vrata/mantra whose efficacy is ‘hidden’ (gupta) and realized through bhāva, aligning with Purāṇic presentations of secret observances.

Significance: Frames mantra-vrata as an inner pilgrimage: bhāva-gocara (accessible through devotion) and aiśvarya-bestowing; in Siddhānta terms, such gains remain within māyā unless oriented to anugraha and mokṣa.

FAQs

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

The verse praises a Shaiva observance/mantra as “hidden” and “profound,” emphasizing that its real access is through bhāva—inner devotion—so that grace-led practice yields both spiritual depth and tangible fruits.

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

In Shaiva practice, secret vows and mantras are typically performed with Saguna Shiva as the focus—often through Linga worship and mantra-japa—where concentrated devotion (bhāva) makes the worship efficacious and leads to aiśvarya by Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-japa undertaken with a disciplined vrata and guarded secrecy (gupta), supported by steady bhāva; the verse also hints at yogic maturation where siddhi-like capacities may arise, though they are to be treated as secondary to Shiva-bhakti.