Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34
सती-शिवचरित्रप्रसङ्गः / The Account of Satī and Śiva’s Divine Conduct
Prelude to Detailed Narrative
इति मे संशयं स्वामिञ्शंकर छेत्तुमर्हसि । सेव्यस्य सेवकेनैव घटते प्रणतिः प्रभो
iti me saṃśayaṃ svāmiñśaṃkara chettumarhasi | sevyasya sevakenaiva ghaṭate praṇatiḥ prabho
इस प्रकार, हे स्वामी शंकर, आप मेरे संशय का निवारण करें। हे प्रभो, जो पूज्य है, उसके प्रति सेवक का प्रणाम करना ही उचित है।
Parvati (Sati-khaṇḍa dialogue: the Goddess addressing Lord Shiva as Śaṅkara)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: teaching
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse affirms the Shaiva Siddhanta ethic of humility: the jīva (servant) naturally offers praṇati to Pati (Śiva), acknowledging Śiva as the supreme, worship-worthy Lord who removes doubts and grants right understanding.
Praṇati is a foundational limb of Linga/Saguna-Śiva worship—approaching the worship-worthy Lord with reverence before mantra, abhiṣeka, and pūjā—expressing the devotee’s dependence on Śiva’s grace to resolve inner doubts.
Begin Śiva-pūjā with praṇāma and a brief saṅkalpa, then chant the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a surrendered attitude; the core practice implied is humble bowing and seeking Śiva’s guidance to cut doubt.