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
अशा प्रकारे, हे स्वामी शंकर, माझा संशय दूर करावा. हे प्रभो, जो पूज्य आहे त्याला सेवकाने नम्र प्रणाम करणेच योग्य आहे.
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.