Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

राहोर्विमोचनानन्तरं जलन्धरस्य सैन्योद्योगः — Rahu’s Aftermath and Jalandhara’s Mobilization

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इति देववचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य वृषभध्वजः । द्रुतं विष्णुं समाहूय वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | iti devavacaḥ śrutvā prahasya vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ | drutaṃ viṣṇuṃ samāhūya vacanaṃ cedamabravīt

Translation

สนัตกุมารกล่าวว่า—เมื่อทรงสดับถ้อยคำของเหล่าเทวะแล้ว วฤษภธวชะ (พระศิวะ) ก็แย้มสรวล แล้วทรงเรียกพระวิษณุมาโดยเร็วและตรัสถ้อยคำนี้

Word by Word

• sanat-kumāraḥ: Sanatkumāra
• sanat-kumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanat + kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (masc nom sg)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• deva-vacaḥ: the gods' words
• deva-vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (neuter accusative singular); तत्पुरुष ('word of the gods')

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having heard'

• prahasya: having smiled
• prahasya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-has (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having laughed/smiled'

• vṛṣabha-dhvajaḥ: Bull-bannered (Śiva)
• vṛṣabha-dhvajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣabha + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि ('he whose banner is a bull' = Śiva)

• drutam: quickly
• drutam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: druta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• viṣṇum: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (masc acc sg)

• samāhūya: having summoned
• samāhūya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-hū (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having called/summoned'

• vacanam: speech / words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (neuter acc sg)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (neuter acc sg; 'this')

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular: spoke/said)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Śiva’s gentle smile while initiating the next move illustrates divine concealment/strategy (tirodhāna) preceding the bestowal of grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

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

Śiva’s gentle smile after hearing the gods reflects the Siddhāntic view of Śiva as Pati—supremely sovereign, calm, and in full command of cosmic order, responding not with agitation but with purposeful guidance.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—recognizable through epithets like Vṛṣabhadhvaja—who compassionately engages the world to protect dharma. In Linga-worship, devotees approach this same accessible Lord who acts for the welfare of beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate Śiva-like steadiness: begin worship with calm awareness, then recite the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to align intention before action; this mirrors Śiva’s composed, deliberate response.