Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

गिरिजातपः-परीक्षा तथा सप्तर्षि-आह्वानम्

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

Devanagari script

सप्तापि मुनयश्शीघ्रमाययुस्स्मृति मात्रतः । प्रसन्नवदनाः सर्वे वर्णयंतो विधिं बहु

Transliteration

saptāpi munayaśśīghramāyayussmṛti mātrataḥ | prasannavadanāḥ sarve varṇayaṃto vidhiṃ bahu

Translation

Cả bảy hiền giả liền mau chóng đến, như thể chỉ cần được nhớ đến là đã được triệu thỉnh. Với gương mặt hoan hỷ, tất thảy đã giảng giải dài rộng về nghi thức đúng đắn, trình bày pháp tắc bằng nhiều cách.

Word by Word

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थे “also/even”

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) रूपेण; अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग (adverbial usage of neuter accusative)

• आययुः: came
• आययुः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपदम्

• स्मृति: of remembrance
• स्मृति: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular) (अर्थः: स्मृतेः)

• मात्रतः: merely; just by
• मात्रतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित/अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययार्थे (ablatival adverb) “only/by mere”

• प्रसन्न-वदनाः: with cheerful faces
• प्रसन्न-वदनाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारयः—“प्रसन्नं वदनं येषाम्/प्रसन्नवदनाः”

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वर्णयन्तः: describing
• वर्णयन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्णय् (धातु; √वर्ण्/वर्णयति)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले (Present), शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विधिम्: the procedure/rite
• विधिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• बहु: much; at length
• बहु: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) “much/greatly” (neuter accusative used adverbially)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, as is typical for the Purana’s frame narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Seven Sages (Saptarishis)

FAQs

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

It highlights that realized sages respond readily to sacred remembrance and that spiritual progress in Shaiva tradition is supported by learning the correct vidhi—right method joined with pure intention—rather than impulse or mere display.

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

By emphasizing ‘vidhi,’ the verse points to orderly Saguna worship—approaching Shiva through established rites (such as Linga-puja) taught by competent seers—so that devotion becomes disciplined and spiritually fruitful.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Seek guidance from authentic teachers and follow the prescribed Shaiva puja-vidhi; as a simple meditative takeaway, remember Shiva with steadiness and repeat the Panchakshara (‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) in a focused, reverent manner.