Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

मृत्युञ्जय-विद्या-प्रादुर्भावः

The Manifestation/Transmission of the Mṛtyuñjaya Vidyā

Devanagari script

उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा मेघनादगभीरया । सुप्रीत्या दशनज्योत्स्ना प्रद्योतितदिंगतरः

Transliteration

uvāca ślakṣṇayā vācā meghanādagabhīrayā | suprītyā daśanajyotsnā pradyotitadiṃgataraḥ

Translation

स मेघनादगभीरया श्लक्ष्णया वाचा उवाच; सुप्रीत्या च दशनज्योत्स्नया प्रद्योतिताः सर्वा दिगन्तराः।

Word by Word

• उवाच: said/spoke
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्लक्ष्णया: gentle/smooth
• श्लक्ष्णया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वाचा)

• वाचा: with (his) speech/voice
• वाचा: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• मेघनादगभीरया: deep like thunder-clouds
• मेघनादगभीरया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघनादगभीर (प्रातिपदिक) [मेघनाद + गभीर]
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वाचा); मेघनादेन गभीरा (cloud-thunder-deep)

• सुप्रीत्या: with great affection
• सुप्रीत्या: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुप्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) [सु + प्रीति]
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; हेतौ/भावे (by/with great affection)

• दशनज्योत्स्ना: the moonlight of (his) teeth
• दशनज्योत्स्ना: Karta (कर्ता/subject; poetic apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशनज्योत्स्ना (प्रातिपदिक) [दशन + ज्योत्स्ना]
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपमा/रूपक-प्रयोगे (metaphoric)

• प्रद्योतित: illumined
• प्रद्योतित: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-द्युत् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-विशेषणरूपे; समासे पूर्वपदत्वेन

• दिङ्: direction(s)
• दिङ्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; in sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश्/दिङ् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (in compound)

• गतरः: the one whose (directions) were... / bearer
• गतरः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेष्यः (one whose...)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the scene to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It portrays auspicious speech (vāṇī) and luminous presence as signs of inner spiritual potency—where sattvic joy manifests outwardly as radiance, reflecting the Shaiva view that consciousness (Śiva-tattva) can shine through embodied form.

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

Though not naming the Liṅga directly, it emphasizes Saguna markers—gentle yet thunder-deep voice and radiant brilliance—paralleling how devotees approach Śiva through perceivable attributes (tejas, prasāda, vāṇī) while remembering the transcendent source.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa with a steady, gentle voice (especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), combined with dhyāna on Śiva’s tejas (inner light), cultivating calm gravity in speech and joyful clarity in the mind.