Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

कुमारोऽपि विनीतात्मा विमानादवतीर्य च । प्रणनाम मुदा शंभुं शिवां सिंहासनस्थिताम्

Transliteration

kumāro'pi vinītātmā vimānādavatīrya ca | praṇanāma mudā śaṃbhuṃ śivāṃ siṃhāsanasthitām

Translation

แม้กุมารผู้มีใจอ่อนน้อมก็ลงจากวิมาน แล้วด้วยความปีติได้กราบนอบน้อมแด่ศัมภู-ศิวะ และศิวา (ปารวตี) ผู้ประทับบนพระที่นั่งบัลลังก์

Word by Word

• कुमारः: Kumāra (Skanda)
• कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थक-निपात (also/even)

• विनीत-आत्मा: having a humble nature
• विनीत-आत्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; नी धातु, क्त) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (विनीतः आत्मा यस्य सः)

• विमानात्: from the aerial car
• विमानात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अवतीर्य: having descended
• अवतीर्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-तॄ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), अवतरण-क्रिया; ‘having descended’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रणनाम: bowed down
• प्रणनाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (instrumental of manner)

• शम्भुम्: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शिवाम्: Śivā (Pārvatī)
• शिवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सिंहासन-स्थिताम्: seated on a throne
• सिंहासन-स्थिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिंहासन (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; स्था धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषसदृश-समासः (सिंहासने स्थिता)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Kumārakhaṇḍa account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Kartikeya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights vinaya (humility) as a core Shaiva virtue: even the divine Kumāra approaches Śiva and Śivā with joyful reverence, showing that grace and spiritual maturity are expressed through surrender (praṇāma) rather than pride.

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

Here the focus is Saguna upāsanā—direct worship of Śiva as Śambhu along with Śivā. The same attitude of reverent approach applies in Liṅga worship: darśana, inner humility, and offering oneself in devotion are central.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin worship with praṇāma and a joyful mind, then recite the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating Śiva-Śakti together, cultivating humility before any offerings or japa.