Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

शिवस्तुतिवर्णनम् (Śiva-stuti-varṇanam) — “Description of Hymns in Praise of Śiva”

Devanagari script

देवान् विष्णुमुदासीनान् दृष्ट्वा च भवकृद्विधिः । कृतांजलिपुरश्शंभुं ब्रह्मा वचनमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

devān viṣṇumudāsīnān dṛṣṭvā ca bhavakṛdvidhiḥ | kṛtāṃjalipuraśśaṃbhuṃ brahmā vacanamabravīt

Translation

Vendo os deuses —e também Viṣṇu— permanecerem indiferentes, Brahmā, o ordenador que faz surgir os mundos, aproximou-se de Śaṃbhu com as mãos postas e proferiu estas palavras.

Word by Word

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उदासीनान्: indifferent; unconcerned
• उदासीनान्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदासीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘देवान्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having seen)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (and)

• भव-कृत्-विधिः: Brahmā, the creator of Bhava
• भव-कृत्-विधिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृ धातोः कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास; ‘विधिः’ = ब्रह्मा; ‘भवकृत्’ = भवस्य कर्ता/जनकः (creator of Bhava); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कृत-अञ्जलि-पुरः: (Śambhu) standing in front with folded hands
• कृत-अञ्जलि-पुरः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातोः क्त) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (पुरः = in front; कृताञ्जलिः सन् पुरः = standing in front with folded hands); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘शंभुम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• शंभुम्: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वचनम्: words; speech
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said; spoke
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Brahmā, seeing the devas and Viṣṇu inert/aloof, approaches Śiva with añjali—an archetypal purāṇic moment of turning to the Supreme for resolution.

Significance: Exemplifies the posture of surrender (añjali, praṇati) as the gateway to Śiva’s anugraha in crisis.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (surrender): when worldly powers remain neutral, the devotee turns to Shambhu with humility, acknowledging Shiva as Pati—the supreme refuge who can resolve cosmic disorder.

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

Brahma’s kṛtāñjali approach reflects Saguna-upāsanā—devotion to Shiva as the accessible, gracious Lord (Shambhu). In Linga worship, the same attitude of reverent surrender is central: approaching the Lord as the living presence who bestows protection and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt kṛtāñjali-bhāva (prayerful posture) and inward humility while japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” optionally preceded by applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder to seek Shiva’s grace rather than relying on mere external power.