Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

शिवानुकम्पा, ब्रह्मणो निर्भयत्वं च (Śiva’s Compassion and Brahmā’s Fearlessness)

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तस्तु मया शंभुरुवाच प्रणतं हि तम् । सुप्रसन्नतरो भूत्वा सर्वेशो भक्तवत्सलः

Transliteration

ityuktastu mayā śaṃbhuruvāca praṇataṃ hi tam | suprasannataro bhūtvā sarveśo bhaktavatsalaḥ

Translation

เมื่อข้าพเจ้ากล่าวดังนั้นแล้ว ศัมภูตรัสแก่ผู้นั้นผู้ก้มกราบด้วยความเคารพ พระองค์ทรงเปี่ยมพระเมตตายิ่ง—เป็นจอมแห่งสรรพสิ่ง ผู้เอ็นดูภักตะ—แล้วตรัสตอบ

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणसूचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्तः: spoken to/addressed
• उक्तः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Predicate: ‘having been addressed’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु; √वच्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तु: then/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (Kartā; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• शंभुः: Śambhu
• शंभुः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु; √वच्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रणतम्: bowed down/prostrate
• प्रणतम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; ‘to the bowed one’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √नम्, क्त; उपसर्ग: प्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/indeed)

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; apposition to प्रणतम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सु-प्रसन्नतरः: more greatly pleased
• सु-प्रसन्नतरः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय-उपसर्गसदृश) + प्रसन्न (कृदन्त; √सद्, क्त) + तर (तद्धित/तुलनाप्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; तर-प्रत्यय (comparative)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु; √भू)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• सर्वेशः: Lord of all
• सर्वेशः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषाम् ईशः)

• भक्त-वत्सलः: affectionate to devotees
• भक्त-वत्सलः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भक्तानां वत्सलः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; Śiva is about to speak in the next line)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s core attribute as bhaktavatsala—He responds to humility and surrender (praṇāma). In Shaiva Siddhanta, grace (anugraha) arises when the soul turns toward Pati (Śiva) with devotion, softening bondage and opening the path to liberation.

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

Śiva is presented in a personal, responsive (saguṇa) mode—‘Śambhu’ who becomes pleased and speaks. This is the devotional basis of Liṅga worship: approaching Śiva with reverence and surrender, trusting His compassionate reply through mantra, pūjā, and inner remembrance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate practice implied is praṇāma (bowing) with bhakti. As a Shaiva takeaway, one may bow before the Śiva-liṅga and repeat the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with a mind of surrender, seeking Śiva’s prasāda (grace).