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

ہَر کو روبرو دیکھ کر—اپنے پروردگار کو اس طرح ظاہر صورت میں پا کر—ستی نے حیا کے ساتھ سر جھکا کر ان کے قدموں میں سجدۂ تعظیم کیا۔

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.