Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

दिव्य-भवन-छत्र-निर्माणः तथा देवसमाह्वानम्

Divine Pavilion and Canopy; Summoning the Gods

Devanagari script

राम उवाच । इत्युक्त्वाथ स्वयं रुद्रोऽनमद्वै गरुडध्वजम् । विष्णुभक्तिप्रसन्नात्मा वरदो भक्तवत्सलः

Transliteration

rāma uvāca | ityuktvātha svayaṃ rudro'namadvai garuḍadhvajam | viṣṇubhaktiprasannātmā varado bhaktavatsalaḥ

Translation

राम म्हणाला—असे बोलून स्वयं रुद्र गरुडध्वज (विष्णु) याला प्रणाम करू लागला. विष्णुभक्तीने अंतःकरण प्रसन्न झालेला, वरदाता व भक्तवत्सल प्रभू नम्र झाला.

Word by Word

• रामः: Rāma
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/quotative particle

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (Absolutive/Gerund)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/transition particle

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनः/independently (emphatic adverb)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अनमत्: bowed
• अनमत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्गः—अ (a-)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक (emphatic particle)

• गरुडध्वजम्: the one whose banner is Garuḍa (Viṣṇu)
• गरुडध्वजम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गरुडस्य ध्वजः यस्य सः)

• विष्णुभक्ति-प्रसन्नात्मा: whose heart was pleased by devotion to Viṣṇu
• विष्णुभक्ति-प्रसन्नात्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु + भक्ति + प्रसन्न + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः भक्त्या प्रसन्नः आत्मा यस्य) विशेषण—रुद्रः

• वरदः: giver of boons
• वरदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—रुद्रः

• भक्तवत्सलः: affectionate to devotees
• भक्तवत्सलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भक्तेषु वत्सलः) विशेषण—रुद्रः

Speaker

Rama

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

It teaches that true bhakti is recognized by Śiva Himself: Rudra is pleased by sincere devotion (even directed to Viṣṇu), revealing humility, non-sectarian reverence, and the Lord’s readiness to bless devotees.

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

As Saguna Śiva (Rudra), the Lord models devotional conduct—honoring Viṣṇu—showing that Linga-worship and Hari-bhakti are not opposed when grounded in purity and surrender; devotion to the Supreme manifests through multiple revered forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice namaskāra (reverent bowing) with single-pointed bhakti, and recite Śiva’s Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while cultivating humility and respect for all divine manifestations; this inner attitude is the primary ‘sādhana’ implied.