Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

जालन्धरस्य दूतप्रेषणम् — Jalandhara Sends an Envoy to Kailāsa

The Provocation of Śiva

Devanagari script

तत्र गत्वा शिवं साक्षाद्देवदेवं महाप्रभुम् । स्वतेजोध्वस्ततमसं भस्मलेपविराजितम्

Transliteration

tatra gatvā śivaṃ sākṣāddevadevaṃ mahāprabhum | svatejodhvastatamasaṃ bhasmalepavirājitam

Translation

Pagdating doon, nasilayan nila si Śiva nang tuwiran—ang Diyos ng mga diyos, ang Makapangyarihang Panginoon—na ang sariling liwanag ay nagtaboy sa lahat ng dilim, at Siya’y nagniningning, pinalamutian ng banal na pahid ng bhasma (banal na abo).

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: there)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; “having gone”

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रत्यक्षार्थक (directly/in person)

• देवदेवम्: the god of gods
• देवदेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: देवानां देवः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: “god of gods”)

• महाप्रभुम्: the great lord
• महाप्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महान् प्रभुः (great lord)

• स्व-तेजः-ध्वस्त-तमसम्: whose darkness was dispelled by his own radiance
• स्व-तेजः-ध्वस्त-तमसम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: स्वतेजसा ध्वस्तं तमो यस्य (he whose darkness is destroyed by his own radiance)

• भस्म-लेप-विराजितम्: adorned with an ash-smearing
• भस्म-लेप-विराजितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + लेप (प्रातिपदिक) + विराजित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: भस्मलेपेन विराजितः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: adorned by an ash-smearing)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Darśana of Śiva ‘sākṣāt’ is framed as removal of tamas (avidyā) by His svatejas—paralleling tīrtha-darśana benefits described across Śaiva māhātmyas.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Śiva as directly knowable (sākṣāt) and as Pati, the supreme Lord whose self-luminous consciousness dispels tamas—symbolizing the removal of ignorance and bondage, leading the devotee toward liberation.

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

By describing Śiva as personally manifest and radiant, the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā—devotional worship of Śiva with form and attributes. Such worship culminates in inner recognition of His light, the same reality adored through the Liṅga as the sacred, accessible focus of devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The mention of bhasma-lepa points to the Shaiva practice of applying vibhuti/Tripuṇḍra with remembrance of Śiva, cultivating purity and detachment, while meditating on His inner radiance that destroys tamas.