Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38

रुद्रस्य परमात्मत्वे ब्रह्मपुत्रत्वादिसंशयप्रश्नः — Questions on Rudra’s Supremacy and His ‘Sonship’ to Brahmā

Devanagari script

श्रीवत्सवक्षसं देवं प्रसन्नमधुरस्मितम् । धरामृदुकरांभोजस्पर्शरक्तपदांबुजम्

Transliteration

śrīvatsavakṣasaṃ devaṃ prasannamadhurasmitam | dharāmṛdukarāṃbhojasparśaraktapadāṃbujam

Translation

ശ്രീവത്സചിഹ്നിത വക്ഷസ്ഥലമുള്ള ദേവനെ അവർ ദർശിച്ചു—പ്രസന്നമായ മധുരസ്മിതം നിറഞ്ഞവൻ; ഭൂമിയുടെ മൃദുലമായ പദ്മസദൃശ കരസ്പർശത്തിൽ അവന്റെ പദ്മപാദങ്ങൾ രക്തിമമായി തിളങ്ങി।

Word by Word

• śrīvatsa-vakṣasam: having the Śrīvatsa-marked chest
• śrīvatsa-vakṣasam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīvatsa (प्रातिपदिक) + vakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; bahuvrīhi = 'one whose chest bears the Śrīvatsa mark'

• devam: the god (Viṣṇu)
• devam: Karma (कर्म/depictive object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; head noun qualified by adjectives

• prasanna-madhura-smitam: serene, sweet-smiling
• prasanna-madhura-smitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक) + madhura (प्रातिपदिक) + smita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; 'with a serene and sweet smile'

• dharā-mṛdu-kara-aṃbhoja-sparśa-rakta-pada-aṃbujam: whose lotus-feet are reddened by the touch of earth’s soft lotus-hands
• dharā-mṛdu-kara-aṃbhoja-sparśa-rakta-pada-aṃbujam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharā (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛdu (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃbhoja (प्रातिपदिक) + sparśa (प्रातिपदिक) + rakta (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃbuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; multi-member tatpuruṣa: 'whose lotus-feet are reddened by the touch of the earth's soft lotus-like hands'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Earth (Dharā)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s accessible Saguna grace: the Lord is portrayed as serene and affectionate, inviting devotees to approach him through loving remembrance of his auspicious form—especially contemplation of his lotus-feet, a classic Shaiva path of bhakti leading toward liberation.

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

While Linga worship points to Shiva’s transcendent, formless reality (Nirguna), this verse emphasizes Saguna darshan—meditating on Shiva’s compassionate, beautiful form. In practice, devotees often worship the Linga while inwardly holding such gracious iconography in the heart.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is pāda-dhyāna (meditation on Shiva’s lotus-feet) alongside japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—offering water and bilva leaves to the Linga while cultivating the same softness and reverence symbolized by the Earth’s tender touch.