Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

नन्दाव्रत-समाप्तिः तथा शङ्करस्य प्रत्यक्ष-दर्शनम्

Completion of the Nandā-vrata and Śiva’s Direct Appearance

Devanagari script

प्रत्यक्षतो हरं वीक्ष्य सती सेदृविधं प्रभुम् । ववन्दे चरणौ तस्य सुलज्जावनतानना

Transliteration

pratyakṣato haraṃ vīkṣya satī sedṛvidhaṃ prabhum | vavande caraṇau tasya sulajjāvanatānanā

Translation

เมื่อสตีได้เห็นพระหระต่อหน้า—ได้ประจักษ์พระผู้เป็นเจ้าของตนในรูปอันปรากฏชัด—นางจึงก้มพักตร์ด้วยความละมุนแห่งความละอาย และนอบน้อมกราบแทบพระบาทของพระองค์

Word by Word

• प्रत्यक्षतः: directly
• प्रत्यक्षतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रत्यक्षतः (अव्यय; प्रत्यक्ष-शब्दात् तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (adverb: directly/before the eyes)

• हरम्: Hara (Śiva)
• हरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having seen)

• सती: Satī
• सती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृपदम्

• स-ईदृश-विधम्: of such a kind
• स-ईदृश-विधम्: Karma (कर्म; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (प्रातिपदिक) + ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of such a kind)

• प्रभुम्: the Lord
• प्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• ववन्दे: she bowed to
• ववन्दे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; (she bowed/worshipped)

• चरणौ: (two) feet
• चरणौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन; कर्म (object)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (genitive singular)

• सु-लज्जा-वनत-आनना: with face lowered in modest shyness
• सु-लज्जा-वनत-आनना: Karta (कर्ता; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + लज्जा (प्रातिपदिक) + वनत (कृदन्त; √नम्) + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; वनत = भूतकृदन्त ‘bowed’; विशेषणम् (she whose face is bowed with good/modest shyness)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Satīkhaṇḍa account to the sages, as per Purāṇic frame)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Darśana and pāda-sevā (reverence to the Lord’s feet) are portrayed as the doorway to grace (anugraha) and the loosening of pāśa (bondage).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights bhakti expressed as surrender (śaraṇāgati): Satī’s direct vision of Hara leads not to pride but to humble reverence at His feet, a Shaiva ideal for approaching Pati (the Lord) with modesty and devotion.

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

It affirms Saguna-upāsanā: when Shiva becomes perceptible (pratyakṣa), the devotee responds with pranama and inner humility. The same attitude is prescribed in Liṅga-worship—seeing the Liṅga as Shiva’s gracious presence and bowing with reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice respectful pranama (bowing) and dhyāna with a softened ego—mentally placing oneself at Shiva’s feet while repeating the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating modesty (lajjā) and surrender during pūjā or japa.