Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4

अन्धक-प्रश्नः — Inquiry into Andhaka

Genealogy and Nature

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमारः प्रोवाच व्यासं सत्यवतीसुतम् । सुप्रशंस्य महेशस्य चरितं मंगलायनम्

Transliteration

sanatkumāraḥ provāca vyāsaṃ satyavatīsutam | supraśaṃsya maheśasya caritaṃ maṃgalāyanam

Translation

Sanatkumāra bertutur kepada Vyāsa, putera Satyavatī; dan setelah memuji dengan setinggi-tinggi pujian akan laku-cerita Maheśa (Śiva) yang membawa keberkatan serta anugerah, baginda meneruskan kisahnya.

Word by Word

• सनत्-कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्-कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सनत् कुमारः)

• प्रोवाच: said
• प्रोवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्ग-पूर्वक (प्र + उवाच)

• व्यासम्: to Vyāsa
• व्यासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सत्यवती-सुतम्: son of Satyavatī
• सत्यवती-सुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यवती (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सत्यवत्याः सुतः)

• सु-प्रशंस्य: having highly praised
• सु-प्रशंस्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-शंस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive) with उपसर्ग (प्र) and उपपद (सु-), ‘having well praised’

• महेशस्य: of Maheśa (Śiva)
• महेशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• चरितम्: deed(s)/life-story
• चरितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मंगल-आयनम्: source of auspiciousness
• मंगल-आयनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मंगल (प्रातिपदिक) + आयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मंगलस्य आयनम् = ‘source/abode of auspiciousness’), विशेषणम् (चरितस्य)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: No Jyotirliṅga; the verse introduces Sanatkumāra’s praise and continuation of Maheśa-carita as a source of auspiciousness (maṅgalāyana).

Significance: Positions Śiva-kathā as maṅgala-sādhana: praising and hearing Maheśa’s deeds is itself an auspicious act leading toward grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sanatkumara
• Vyasa
• Satyavati

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Śiva’s carita (sacred deeds) is itself a mangala-āyana—an abiding source of auspiciousness—and that sincerely praising and hearing it purifies the mind and turns the soul (paśu) toward Pati (Śiva), supporting liberation-oriented devotion.

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

By emphasizing Maheśa’s “carita,” the text points to Saguna Śiva—Śiva known through names, forms, and divine acts. Such praise naturally supports Linga-worship, where devotees approach the same Supreme through a sanctified, worshipable form and remembrance of His līlā and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A direct takeaway is śravaṇa-kīrtana: regularly hearing and reciting Śiva’s stories and praises. Practically, one may chant the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before or after reading Śiva-carita as an act of devotional focus.