Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

देवस्तुतिः — Hymn of Praise by the Devas

Devastuti

Devanagari script

द्विजो मंदरनामापि वेश्यागामी खलोऽधमः । त्वद्भक्तः शिव संपूज्य तया सह गतिं गतः

Transliteration

dvijo maṃdaranāmāpi veśyāgāmī khalo'dhamaḥ | tvadbhaktaḥ śiva saṃpūjya tayā saha gatiṃ gataḥ

Translation

ହେ ଶିବ! ମନ୍ଦର ନାମକ ଏକ ଦ୍ୱିଜ, ବେଶ୍ୟାଗାମୀ, ଦୁଷ୍ଟ ଓ ଅଧମ ହେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ, ତୁମ ଭକ୍ତ ହୋଇ ଯଥାବିଧି ପୂଜା କରି ସେଇ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ ସହ ପରମ ଗତି ପାଇଲା।

Word by Word

• द्विजः: a brāhmaṇa (twice-born)
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मन्दरनाम: named ‘Mandara’
• मन्दरनाम: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्दर + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—मन्दर इति नाम (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• वेश्यागामी: one who goes to prostitutes
• वेश्यागामी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेश्या + गामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—वेश्यां गच्छति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• खलः: a wicked man
• खलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अधमः: base/low
• अधमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• त्वद्भक्तः: your devotee
• त्वद्भक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तव भक्तः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• शिव: O Śiva
• शिव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• संपूज्य: having duly worshipped
• संपूज्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) with उपसर्ग सम्; अव्ययभाव

• तया: with her/by her
• तया: Sahakarana (सहकारण/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahartha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (with)

• गतिम्: state/goal (liberation)
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गतः: went/attained
• गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse functions as a general exemplum (dṛṣṭānta) that Śiva-bhakti and proper pūjā can override grave demerit and elevate both the sinner and an associated person.

Significance: Establishes the Purāṇic assurance that sincere Śiva-pūjā and bhakti can grant ‘paramā gati’ even to the morally fallen, encouraging repentance and temple-worship.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s grace (anugraha) and sincere bhakti can purify even a deeply fallen person; true worship redirects the soul from bondage (pāśa) toward liberating gati.

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

The verse emphasizes ‘saṃpūjya’—proper worship of Śiva in a tangible, devotional form (Saguna), commonly expressed in the Purāṇa through Liṅga-pūjā, by which Śiva bestows upliftment and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is sincere Śiva-pūjā with repentance and steady bhakti—classically supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and regular worship with purity of intent.