Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

शुक्रस्य जठरस्थत्वं तथा मृत्युशमनी-विद्या (Śukra in Śiva’s belly and the death-subduing vidyā)

Devanagari script

प्रणम्य स्वगुरुं काव्यमवरुह्य रथाच्च सः । बभाषेदं विचार्याथ सांजलिर्नीतिवित्तमः

Transliteration

praṇamya svaguruṃ kāvyamavaruhya rathācca saḥ | babhāṣedaṃ vicāryātha sāṃjalirnītivittamaḥ

Translation

தன் குருவான காவ்யரை (சுக்ராசாரியரை) வணங்கி, ரதத்திலிருந்து இறங்கி, அரசநீதி-தர்மங்களில் மிகுந்த விவேகமுடையவன் கைகூப்பி, சிந்தித்துப் பின்பு இவ்வாறு பேசினான்.

Word by Word

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तम् (Gerund/Absolutive)

• स्व-गुरुम्: his own guru
• स्व-गुरुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of प्रणम्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• काव्यम्: Kāvya (name of Śukra)
• काव्यम्: कर्म (Appositional object: whom he bowed to)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; (गुरोः नाम)

• अवरुह्य: having descended
• अवरुह्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव+रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तम् (Gerund/Absolutive)

• रथात्: from the chariot
• रथात्: अपादान (Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (Ablative/5th), एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• बभाषे: spoke
• बभाषे: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्म (Object of बभाषे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• विचार्य: having reflected/considered
• विचार्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+चर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तम् (Gerund/Absolutive)

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अनन्तर-क्रमसूचक (then/thereupon)

• स-अञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• स-अञ्जलिः: विशेषण (Qualifier of सः/अंधकः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (करौ अञ्जलिं कृत्वा)

• नीति-वित्तमः: best knower of policy
• नीति-वित्तमः: विशेषण (Qualifier of सः/अंधकः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीति (प्रातिपदिक) + वित्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्; उत्तम-भावे (superlative sense: 'best among')

Speaker

A leading warrior/king in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative (speaking respectfully after bowing to Śukrācārya, the Asura-guru)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Śukrācārya (Kāvya)

FAQs

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

It highlights guru-vandana (bowing to the teacher) and thoughtful speech as marks of dharma—outer humility and inner discernment that purify intention, aligning action with righteous order under Shiva’s supreme oversight.

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

Though not directly about the Liṅga, it supports Saguna-Shiva practice by emphasizing reverence, discipline, and proper conduct—qualities essential for ritual worship, mantra-japa, and receiving guidance in Shiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is respectful approach to the guru with añjali and reflective restraint (vicāra) before speaking—useful as a preparatory discipline before japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” wearing bhasma/tripuṇḍra, or any Shiva-pūjā.