Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

भक्तिभेदाः—ज्ञानप्रधानभक्तेः प्रशंसा

Grades of Devotees and the Praise of Knowledge-Centered Devotion

Devanagari script

ज्ञप्तः शिवेनाशु दक्षः शिवभक्तः प्रसन्नधीः । यज्ञं चकार संपूर्णं शिवानुग्रहतो मुने

Transliteration

jñaptaḥ śivenāśu dakṣaḥ śivabhaktaḥ prasannadhīḥ | yajñaṃ cakāra saṃpūrṇaṃ śivānugrahato mune

Translation

ଶିବଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଉପଦେଶ ପାଇ ଦକ୍ଷ ଶୀଘ୍ର ଶିବଭକ୍ତ ଓ ପ୍ରସନ୍ନବୁଦ୍ଧି ହେଲେ; ହେ ମୁନି, ଶିବାନୁଗ୍ରହରେ ସେ ଯଜ୍ଞକୁ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଭାବେ ସମାପ୍ତ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• ज्ञप्तः: (having been) informed
• ज्ञप्तः: Kriya (क्रिया/कर्मणि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञप् (धातु) (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘informed/caused to know’

• शिवेन: by Śiva
• शिवेन: Kartr-karana (कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• दक्षः: Dakṣa
• दक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शिवभक्तः: a devotee of Śiva
• शिवभक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य भक्तः)

• प्रसन्नधीः: one whose mind was clear/pleased
• प्रसन्नधीः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न-धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (प्रसन्ना धीः यस्य सः)

• यज्ञम्: sacrifice
• यज्ञम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• चकार: performed
• चकार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• संपूर्णम्: complete
• संपूर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संपूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मविशेषण (object-qualifier)

• शिवानुग्रहतः: due to Śiva’s grace
• शिवानुग्रहतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शिव-अनुग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः/from’; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य अनुग्रहः) + तः

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It teaches that ritual becomes spiritually fruitful only when aligned with Śiva-bhakti and a purified, peaceful mind; completion comes through Śiva’s anugraha (grace), not ego or mere formalism.

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

By showing Dakṣa transformed into a Śiva-devotee, the verse underscores Saguna Śiva’s compassionate guidance: when one honors Śiva (often through Liṅga-worship), divine grace rectifies and perfects one’s ritual and intention.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to perform yajña or daily worship with Śiva-bhakti and mental serenity—supporting practices include japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and offering worship with humility, seeking Śiva’s grace for completion.