Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

भोजन-आह्वान-प्रकरणम् — The Episode of Invitation and the Divine Feast

Devanagari script

शम्भुरागत्य स्वस्थानं ववन्दे च मुनींस्तदा । हरिं च मां भवाचारात् वन्दितोऽभूत्सुरादिभिः

Transliteration

śambhurāgatya svasthānaṃ vavande ca munīṃstadā | hariṃ ca māṃ bhavācārāt vandito'bhūtsurādibhiḥ

Translation

随后，商婆回到自己的住处，向诸圣仙致礼。依循正当的圣行仪则，他也礼敬了哈利（Hari）；而我亦同样受到诸天与其他天界众生的如法敬奉。

Word by Word

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• आगत्य: having come
• आगत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action)

• स्वस्थानम्: to his own place
• स्वस्थानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion/goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ववन्दे: paid homage / bowed
• ववन्दे: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मुनीन्: sages
• मुनीन्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भवाचारात्: due to (his) conduct/behavior
• भवाचारात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान/Cause-Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वन्दितः: (was) saluted
• वन्दितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वन्द् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अभूत्: became / was
• अभूत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• सुरादिभिः: by the gods and others
• सुरादिभिः: Kartr̥ (कर्तृ/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models mutual reverence among divine powers (Śiva honoring sages and Hari), reinforcing harmony of dharma and the ideal of honoring jñānins and devotees as part of Śiva-bhakti.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Sages (Munis)
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s ideal divine conduct: even as the supreme Pati, He honors sages and acknowledges Hari, teaching devotees humility, reverence, and dharmic ācāra as integral to bhakti.

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

By depicting Śambhu’s personal, relational (saguṇa) behavior—returning to His abode and offering salutations—it frames devotional worship as grounded in respect, ritual propriety, and recognition of the divine order upheld by Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice ācāra in pūjā: begin worship with respectful salutations (namaskāra) to guru/sages and to the divine, then proceed with mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) in a disciplined, reverent manner.