Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

अनरण्य-वंशवर्णनम् तथा पिप्पलादस्य कामोत्पत्तिः

Genealogy of King Anaraṇya and Pippalāda’s arousal of desire

Devanagari script

राजा शीघ्रं मुनिं दृष्ट्वा प्रणनाम भयाकुलः । मधुपर्कादिकं दत्त्वा पूजयामास भक्तितः

Transliteration

rājā śīghraṃ muniṃ dṛṣṭvā praṇanāma bhayākulaḥ | madhuparkādikaṃ dattvā pūjayāmāsa bhaktitaḥ

Translation

国王一见牟尼，便因惶惧而心神不安，立刻俯首顶礼；献上蜜乳供（madhuparka）等诸般礼敬，以虔诚之心供奉礼拜。

Word by Word

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावे क्रियाविशेषण)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मुनिम्: the sage
• मुनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having seen'

• प्रणनाम: bowed down
• प्रणनाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु) उपसर्गः प्र-
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भय-आकुलः: agitated with fear
• भय-आकुलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—भयेन आकुलः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• मधुपर्क-आदिकम्: madhuparka and other offerings
• मधुपर्क-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधुपर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—मधुपर्कः आदिः यस्य तत् (आदि-समास, तत्पुरुष-प्रयोगः)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having given'

• पूजयामास: worshipped; honored
• पूजयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Periphrastic Perfect/परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'पूजयाम्' (कृदन्त-आमन्त) + 'आस'

• भक्तितः: devoutly; from devotion
• भक्तितः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb): 'out of devotion'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• a king
• a sage (muni)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shaiva dharma through humility and bhakti: reverence to a muni is treated as reverence to Dharma and, indirectly, to Lord Shiva (Pati). Fear is purified when it is redirected into surrender, service, and respectful worship.

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

In the Shiva Purana, honoring Shiva’s devotees and sages is an extension of Saguna worship—devotion expressed through visible, embodied acts (namaskara, offerings, hospitality). Such conduct supports inner purity that makes Linga-worship fruitful.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests atithi-puja and guru-seva: offering respectful hospitality (like madhuparka), bowing with sincerity, and cultivating devotion. As a Shaiva takeaway, pair this with daily Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to stabilize the mind in reverence.