Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34

दक्षयज्ञे मुनिदेवसमागमः / The Gathering of Sages and Gods at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

यस्य स्मृत्या च नामोक्त्या समग्रं सुकृतं भवेत् । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन ह्यानेतव्यो वृषध्वजः

Transliteration

yasya smṛtyā ca nāmoktyā samagraṃ sukṛtaṃ bhavet | tasmātsarvaprayatnena hyānetavyo vṛṣadhvajaḥ

Translation

Chỉ cần tưởng niệm Ngài và xưng tụng Thánh Danh, toàn bộ công đức liền được viên mãn. Vì thế, hãy dốc mọi nỗ lực để thỉnh mời Vṛṣadhvaja—Đức Śiva, Đấng có cờ mang hình bò—giáng lâm và an tọa.

Word by Word

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitival relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन) — relative pronoun

• smṛtyā: by remembrance
• smṛtyā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: smṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular — means/agency

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• nāma-uktyā: by uttering (his) name
• nāma-uktyā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman + ukti (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नाम्नः उक्तिः) — ‘uttering of the name’

• samagram: entire, complete
• samagram: Karma (कर्म/Object-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samagra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular — agrees with sukṛtam

• sukṛtam: merit
• sukṛtam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular — ‘merit/virtuous deed’

• bhavet: would become
• bhavet: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular — ‘would become’

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular — ‘therefore/from that reason’

• sarva-prayatnena: with every effort
• sarva-prayatnena: Karana (करण/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + prayatna (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; कर्मधारयः — ‘with all effort’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) — emphasis/assurance

• ānetavyaḥ: must be brought
• ānetavyaḥ: Karya (कार्य/obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-nī (धातु) + tavya (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Gerundive/Obligative (तव्यत्-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular — passive necessity ‘to be brought’

• vṛṣa-dhvajaḥ: Bull-bannered (Śiva)
• vṛṣa-dhvajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣa + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः — ‘he whose banner is the bull’ (epithet of Śiva)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Articulates nāma-smaraṇa as a direct means to accrue sukṛta and approach Śiva; pilgrimage analogue: even before reaching a kṣetra, remembrance/utterance sanctifies the pilgrim and ‘completes’ merit.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s grace is accessed through bhakti—simple remembrance (smaraṇa) and name-utterance (nāma-japa)—which can perfect one’s spiritual merit and turn the mind toward liberation under Pati (Śiva), the Lord of souls.

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

“Bring Vṛṣadhvaja” implies inviting Saguna Śiva into worship—commonly through liṅga-pūjā, mantra, and devotional invocation—so the devotee’s inner remembrance is supported by an outward sacred focus.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily Śiva-smaraṇa and nāma-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and ritually “invite” Śiva at the start of worship (āvāhana) during liṅga-pūjā, particularly on Mahāśivarātri.