Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

दक्षयज्ञोत्तरवृत्तान्तः

Post–Dakṣa-Yajña Developments and the Appeal to Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

विधिपुत्रैर्महासिद्धैश्शिव भक्तिरतैस्सदा । उपास्यमानं सुमुदा शांतैस्संशांतविग्रहैः

Transliteration

vidhiputrairmahāsiddhaiśśiva bhaktirataissadā | upāsyamānaṃ sumudā śāṃtaissaṃśāṃtavigrahaiḥ

Translation

அவர் விதி (பிரம்மா) புதல்வரான மகாசித்தர்களால்—எப்போதும் சிவபக்தியில் லயித்து, பேரானந்தத்துடன், மனம் அமைதியாகவும் உடல் முற்றிலும் தணிந்த நிலையிலும் இருந்தவர்களால்—மகிழ்ச்சியுடன் உபாசிக்கப்பட்டார்।

Word by Word

• विधि-पुत्रैः: by the sons of Brahmā (Vidhi)
• विधि-पुत्रैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — सहकारक; विधेः पुत्राः (ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa)

• महा-सिद्धैः: by great siddhas
• महा-सिद्धैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — सहकारक; ‘महान्तः सिद्धाः’

• शिव: O Śiva / Śiva-
• शिव: सम्बोधन/विशेषण (Address/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा-एकवचन (vocative/nominative form used as qualifier) — here as first member in phrase ‘शिव-भक्तिरतैः’ (intended)

• भक्ति-रतैः: by those devoted to devotion
• भक्ति-रतैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument/Agent in passive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — विशेषण; भक्तौ रताः (locative-tatpuruṣa sense)

• सदा: always
• सदा: काल (Temporal adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — नित्यत्ववाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: always)

• उपास्यमानम्: being worshipped
• उपास्यमानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; patient of passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + आस् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्/Present passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — ‘being worshipped/served’

• सु-मुदा: with great joy
• सु-मुदा: करण/भाव (Instrument/Manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन — भाव/हेतु; ‘सु’ (well) + ‘मुदा’ (joy) → ‘with great joy’

• शान्तैः: by the peaceful ones
• शान्तैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument/Agent in passive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — विशेषण

• संशान्त-विग्रहैः: by those of tranquil form
• संशान्त-विग्रहैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument/Agent in passive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — बहुव्रीहिः; ‘संशान्तः विग्रहः येषाम्’ (whose bodies/forms are thoroughly calmed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It presents the Shaiva ideal: perfected beings worship Śiva with joyful devotion and deep inner peace, showing that liberation-oriented bhakti is inseparable from mental serenity and self-control.

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

The verse emphasizes upāsanā—reverent worship—performed by realized devotees; in the Shiva Purana this commonly expresses itself as Saguna Śiva worship (often through the Liṅga) supported by steady devotion and contemplative stillness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to calm, disciplined upāsanā: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a tranquil mind, combined with traditional Śaiva worship such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and devotion.