Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 56

गोत्र-प्रवर-प्रश्नः तथा तिथ्यादि-कीर्तनं

Gotra–Pravara Inquiry and Proclamation of Auspicious Time

Devanagari script

देवाभिधानमुच्चार्य्य पर्य्यक्षणविधिं व्यधुः । महोत्सवस्तदा चासीन्महानन्दकरो मुने

Transliteration

devābhidhānamuccāryya paryyakṣaṇavidhiṃ vyadhuḥ | mahotsavastadā cāsīnmahānandakaro mune

Translation

神聖なる御名を唱え、定めの作法に従ってプラダクシナー（右繞）を行った。すると、聖仙よ、甚大な歓喜をもたらす大祭が起こった。

Word by Word

• deva-abhidhānam: the divine name
• deva-abhidhānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + abhidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—देवस्य अभिधानम् (the name/designation of the deity)

• uccārya: having pronounced
• uccārya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√car (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); धातु: उद्-चर् (to utter/pronounce); अर्थ: ‘having uttered’

• paryyakṣaṇa-vidhim: the inspection-rite procedure
• paryyakṣaṇa-vidhim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paryyakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—पर्य्यक्षणस्य विधिः (the rite/procedure of inspection/verification)

• vyadhuḥ: they performed
• vyadhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; उपसर्ग: वि-; धातु: धा (to do/perform/arrange)

• mahā-utsavaḥ: a great festival
• mahā-utsavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + utsava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—महान् उत्सवः (a great festival)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: then)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• āsīt: was
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; धातु: अस् (to be)

• mahā-ānanda-karaḥ: causing great joy
• mahā-ānanda-karaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of mahā-utsavaḥ; तत्पुरुषः—महान् आनन्दं करोति इति (causing great joy)

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; emphasizes nāmoccāraṇa (utterance of divine names) and pradakṣiṇā as auspicious components of the wedding-festival liturgy.

Significance: Highlights nāma-saṅkīrtana and pradakṣiṇā as merit-producing acts; the ‘mahānanda’ points to bhakti-fruition through ritual participation.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse links nāma-ucchāraṇa (devotional recitation of Shiva’s divine names) with pradakṣiṇā (reverent circumambulation), showing that loving, embodied worship culminates in ānanda—spiritual joy—when directed to Pati (Lord Shiva), the bestower of grace.

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

Circumambulation is a classic act of Saguna worship—moving around the Linga or the sanctified presence of Shiva—while reciting divine names. Together, they express surrender and reverence, treating Shiva as the living center of one’s world and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Chant Shiva’s names (nāma-japa, including the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” where appropriate) and perform pradakṣiṇā with a focused mind; this is presented as a simple, joy-giving devotional discipline.