Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 53

विष्णोर्दर्शनं स्तुतिश्च

Viṣṇu’s Manifestation and Brahmā’s Hymn

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तः प्राह स स्वामी विहस्य करुणान्वितः । दिवमुद्वीक्ष्य सुप्रीत्या नानालीलाविशारदः

Transliteration

ityuktaḥ prāha sa svāmī vihasya karuṇānvitaḥ | divamudvīkṣya suprītyā nānālīlāviśāradaḥ

Translation

如是被问，那位主宰含笑答曰，慈悲充满。以大欢喜仰观诸天，因其通达种种神圣的戏行（līlā）。

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotative particle (इति-वाचक)

• uktaḥ: (having been) spoken to / addressed
• uktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject—described as ‘having been addressed’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kridanta, past passive participle (कर्मणि भूतकृदन्त/क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• prāha: said
• prāha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: Tinganta, Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• svāmī: the lord/master
• svāmī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vihasya: having smiled/laughed
• vihasya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + has (धातु)
• Form: Kridanta, Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), avyaya (अव्ययभाव)

• karuṇānvitaḥ: endowed with compassion
• karuṇānvitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karuṇā (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘करुणया अन्वितः’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• divam: the sky/heaven
• divam: Karma (कर्म/object of ‘looking at’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: div (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• udvīkṣya: having looked up at
• udvīkṣya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud + vīkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Kridanta, Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), avyaya (अव्ययभाव)

• suprītyā: with great delight
• suprītyā: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु—by/with great joy)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suprīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• nānā-līlā-viśāradaḥ: skilled in many kinds of divine sports
• nānā-līlā-viśāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + līlā (प्रातिपदिक) + viśārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘नानाविधासु लीलासु विशारदः’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: īśvara-pratyuttara (the Lord’s compassionate assent preceding manifestation)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva as the compassionate Pati (Lord) who responds with grace and gentle joy, indicating that divine instruction and protection arise from karuṇā rather than anger—an essential Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on Shiva’s anugraha (bestowing of grace).

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

The verse portrays Saguna Shiva—smiling, responsive, and engaged in līlā—supporting devotional worship where the devotee approaches Shiva as a personal Lord who hears prayers and answers, which is central to Purāṇic Linga-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate bhakti with a calm mind—mentally remembering Shiva’s compassionate form while repeating the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), seeking anugraha (grace) rather than merely worldly results.