Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 52

पूजाविधिः

Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances

Devanagari script

शरण्यं सर्वसत्त्वानां प्रसन्नमुखपंकजम् । वेदैश्शास्त्रैर्यथा गीतं विष्णुब्रह्मनुतं सदा

Transliteration

śaraṇyaṃ sarvasattvānāṃ prasannamukhapaṃkajam | vedaiśśāstrairyathā gītaṃ viṣṇubrahmanutaṃ sadā

Translation

御方は一切衆生の帰依処、蓮華のごとき御顔は常に安らかで慈しみに満ちる。ヴェーダとシャーストラが歌い告げるとおり、ヴィシュヌとブラフマーにより永遠に礼拝される。

Word by Word

• शरण्यम्: refuge-giving, protector
• शरण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• सर्वसत्त्वानाम्: of all beings
• सर्वसत्त्वानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (sarvāṇi sattvāni)

• प्रसन्नमुखपंकजम्: whose lotus-like face is serene
• प्रसन्नमुखपंकजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न + मुख + पंकज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (प्रसन्नं मुखं यस्य तत् पंकजम्/मुखपंकजम्)

• वेदैः: by the Vedas
• वेदैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• शास्त्रैः: by the scriptures
• शास्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• यथा: as, in the manner that
• यथा: Avyaya (अव्यय/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative/manner adverb)

• गीतम्: sung, proclaimed
• गीतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गै (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → गीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• विष्णुब्रह्मनुतम्: praised by Viṣṇu and Brahmā
• विष्णुब्रह्मनुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु + ब्रह्मन् + नुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (विष्णु-ब्रह्मभ्यां नुतम् = praised by Viṣṇu and Brahmā); नुत = √नु (धातु) + क्त

• सदा: always
• सदा: Avyaya (अव्यय/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ishana

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse establishes Shiva as Pati—the ultimate refuge and gracious Lord of all beings—whose supremacy is affirmed by scripture and by the reverence of other deities, guiding the seeker toward surrender and liberation.

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

By describing Shiva’s approachable, compassionate aspect (“serene lotus-face”), the verse supports Saguna upāsanā—devotional worship of Shiva, commonly centered on the Śiva-liṅga as the accessible form of the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice śaraṇāgati with japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering water and bilva to the liṅga while contemplating Shiva as the ever-gracious refuge praised by the Vedas.