Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

शिवस्य आश्वासनं हरि-ब्रह्मणोः तथा शङ्खचूडवृत्तान्तकथनम् / Śiva’s Reassurance to Hari and Brahmā; Account of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Origin

Devanagari script

ततः शंभुं पुनर्नत्वा तुष्टाव विहिताञ्जलिः । श्रीकृष्णो मोहनिर्मुक्तो ज्ञात्वा तत्त्वं शिवस्य हि

Transliteration

tataḥ śaṃbhuṃ punarnatvā tuṣṭāva vihitāñjaliḥ | śrīkṛṣṇo mohanirmukto jñātvā tattvaṃ śivasya hi

Translation

Bấy giờ, Śrī Kṛṣṇa lại cúi lạy Śambhu, chắp tay cung kính mà dâng lời tán tụng. Vì đã thấu rõ chân lý của Śiva, Ngài được giải thoát khỏi mọi mê lầm.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (ततः=thereafter)

• śaṃbhum: Śambhu (Śiva)
• śaṃbhum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• punar: again
• punar: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (पुनः)

• natvā: having bowed
• natvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable verbal form

• tuṣṭāva: praised
• tuṣṭāva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √stu (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada; intensive perfect sense 'praised'

• vihita-añjaliḥ: with hands folded
• vihita-añjaliḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vihita-añjali (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; vi-√dhā (धातु) + क्त + añjali)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः: विहितः अञ्जलिः यस्य (one whose folded hands are made)

• śrī-kṛṣṇaḥ: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• śrī-kṛṣṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः (honorific prefix)

• moha-nirmuktaḥ: freed from delusion
• moha-nirmuktaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: moha + nirmukta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; nir-√muc (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः: मोहात् निर्मुक्तः (freed from delusion)

• jñātvā: having known
• jñātvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable verbal form

• tattvam: the truth/principle
• tattvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śivasya: of Śiva
• śivasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात), emphasis/causal nuance

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Krishna

FAQs

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

It teaches that true realization of Śiva-tattva dispels moha (delusion), and that the natural response to such clarity is humble surrender (namaskāra) and devotional praise (stuti)—a Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on Śiva as Pati who grants right knowledge and liberation.

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

The verse highlights embodied devotion—bowing and offering añjali—typical of Saguna worship such as Linga-pūjā. Through such reverent practice, the devotee’s understanding matures toward Śiva’s tattva (his supreme reality), where form-based worship becomes a doorway to deeper realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform namaskāra with añjali and recite Śiva-stuti or the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with focused intent, using devotion to overcome mental delusion and stabilize right understanding.