Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

राहोर्विमोचनानन्तरं जलन्धरस्य सैन्योद्योगः — Rahu’s Aftermath and Jalandhara’s Mobilization

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा ते सुरास्सर्वे प्रभुं नत्वा सवासवाः । पादौ निरीक्ष्य संतस्थुर्महेशस्य विनम्रकाः

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | ityuktvā te surāssarve prabhuṃ natvā savāsavāḥ | pādau nirīkṣya saṃtasthurmaheśasya vinamrakāḥ

Translation

Sanatkumāra nói: Nói xong, tất cả chư Thiên—cùng với Indra—đều cúi lạy Đấng Chúa Tể. Với lòng khiêm cung, họ ngước nhìn đôi chân của Mahādeva và đứng đó cung kính.

Word by Word

• sanat-kumāraḥ: Sanatkumāra
• sanat-kumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanat + kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (masc nom sg; proper name)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person singular: said)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having said'

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (masc nom pl: they)

• surāḥ: gods
• surāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन (masc nom pl)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विशेषण (masc nom pl; adjective)

• prabhum: the Lord
• prabhum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (masc acc sg)

• natvā: having bowed
• natvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having bowed'

• sa-vāsavāḥ: together with Vāsava (Indra)
• sa-vāsavāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (सह/सम्-भाव) + vāsava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; सहार्थक-तत्पुरुष ('with Indra')

• pādau: (his) two feet
• pādau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), द्विवचन (masc acc dual)

• nirīkṣya: having beheld
• nirīkṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having looked at'

• saṃtasthuḥ: stood / remained
• saṃtasthuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd person plural: stood)

• maheśasya: of Maheśa
• maheśasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (masc gen sg)

• vinamrakāḥ: humble / bowed down
• vinamrakāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vinamra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विशेषण (masc nom pl)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) at Śiva’s feet; in Siddhānta this is the pashu’s turning toward Pati as prerequisite for anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati (surrender): even the Devas approach Śiva by bowing and contemplating His feet, indicating that grace arises through humility and devotion to Pati (the Lord).

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

The verse models Saguna-upāsanā—reverent pranāma and focused darśana. In Linga worship, this same attitude is expressed by bowing, offering, and mentally fixing awareness on Śiva as the compassionate Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice namaskāra with Shiva-pāda-smṛti (meditation on Śiva’s feet) before or after Linga pūjā; pair it with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to stabilize humility and devotion.