Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 65

गिरिजातपः-परीक्षा तथा सप्तर्षि-आह्वानम्

Girijā’s Austerity-Test and the Summoning of the Seven Sages

Devanagari script

अतः परमहंसानां धार्यये सुप्रिया गतिः । अवधूतस्वरूपेण परानंदेन शंभुना

Transliteration

ataḥ paramahaṃsānāṃ dhāryaye supriyā gatiḥ | avadhūtasvarūpeṇa parānaṃdena śaṃbhunā

Translation

Vì thế, đối với các paramahaṃsa (bậc xuất ly tối thượng), nơi nương tựa yêu quý và nâng đỡ nhất là chiêm niệm và gìn giữ trong tâm Śambhu—Đấng an trụ trong hình tướng avadhūta, chính là hiện thân của Đại Lạc tối thượng.

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/तस्मात्-अर्थे अव्यय (therefore/from this)

• परमहंसानाम्: of the paramahaṃsas (supreme ascetics)
• परमहंसानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (परमाः हंसाः = highest ascetics)

• धार्यये: for being assumed/borne
• धार्यये: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृ (धातु) + यत्/य (कृदन्त/भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; ‘धारणीयाय’ इत्यर्थे (for being borne/assumed)

• सु-प्रियā: very dear; most pleasing
• सु-प्रियā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying गतिः)

• गतिः: course/way; state; mode
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अवधूत-स्वरूपेण: in/with the form of an avadhūta (renunciate)
• अवधूत-स्वरूपेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवधूत (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अवधूतस्य स्वरूपम्)

• पर-आनन्देन: with supreme bliss
• पर-आनन्देन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परः आनन्दः = supreme bliss)

• शंभुना: by Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभुना: Karana (करण/Instrument/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it valorizes Śiva’s avadhūta/renunciant mode as the contemplative refuge of paramahaṃsas.

Significance: Supports pilgrimage to ascetic Śiva-kṣetras (smashāna, tapas-sthalas) as aids to vairāgya and inner contemplation.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva (Śambhu) as the dearest gati—final refuge and inner support—for the highest renunciants, emphasizing that liberation is secured by steady contemplation of the Lord who is supreme bliss and perfect detachment.

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

Although it highlights Śiva’s avadhūta nature (detached, transcendent), it supports Saguna upāsanā by giving the seeker a contemplable form and quality—Śambhu as blissful Lord—through which the mind is held and led toward the higher, transcendent realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The key practice is dhāraṇā—holding Śiva in the heart through japa and meditation (e.g., sustained remembrance with the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating avadhūta-like vairāgya (dispassion) and inner steadiness.