Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1

शिवस्य आश्वासनं हरि-ब्रह्मणोः तथा शङ्खचूडवृत्तान्तकथनम् / Śiva’s Reassurance to Hari and Brahmā; Account of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Origin

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । अथाकर्ण्य वचश्शंभुर्हरिविध्योस्सुदीनयोः । उवाच विहसन्वाण्या मेघनादगभीरया

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | athākarṇya vacaśśaṃbhurharividhyossudīnayoḥ | uvāca vihasanvāṇyā meghanādagabhīrayā

Translation

สนัตกุมารกล่าวว่า—ครั้นแล้วเมื่อศัมภูทรงสดับถ้อยคำของหริและวิธีผู้ทุกข์ระทมยิ่ง พระองค์ทรงแย้มสรวลอ่อน และตรัสด้วยสุรเสียงก้องลึกดุจเสียงคำรามแห่งเมฆา।

Word by Word

• sanat-kumāraḥ: Sanatkumāra
• sanat-kumāraḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanat + kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Maṅgala/krama-avyaya (sequencing particle)

• ākarṇya: having heard
• ākarṇya: Kriyā (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√karṇ (धातु: karṇ/śru-arthaka) + ākarṇya (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having heard’ (pūrvakāla-kriyā)

• vacaḥ: the words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• śambhuḥ: Śambhu (Śiva)
• śambhuḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• hari-vidhyoḥ: of Hari and Brahmā
• hari-vidhyoḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (genitive, 6th), Dvivacana (dual); द्वन्द्वः (Hari and Vidhi=Brahmā)

• su-dīnayoḥ: of the very distressed (two)
• su-dīnayoḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + dīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Dvivacana; adjective qualifying hari-vidhyoḥ; कर्मधारयः (very distressed)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• vihasan: smiling
• vihasan: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√has (धातु) + vihan (कृदन्त)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya present participle (शतृ), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; kartari ‘smiling’ qualifying śambhuḥ

• vāṇyā: with (his) speech/voice
• vāṇyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (instrumental, 3rd), Ekavacana

• megha-nāda-gabhīrayā: deep like thunder
• megha-nāda-gabhīrayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: megha + nāda + gabhīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; adjective qualifying vāṇyā; तत्पुरुषः (meghasya nāda iva gabhīrā) ‘deep like thunder’

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as Pati—the supreme refuge—who remains serene and compassionate even when the greatest gods are distressed, teaching the seeker to rely on Śiva’s steady grace amid turmoil.

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

Śambhu is portrayed in a personal, Saguna mode—smiling and speaking—showing that devotion to Śiva (including Liṅga worship) is not abstract alone but a living relationship with the compassionate Lord who responds to devotees’ suffering.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) with japa and steadiness—chanting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to cultivate the calm, cloud-deep inner firmness that mirrors Śiva’s unshaken presence.