Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

दक्षस्य प्रजावृद्ध्युपायः — Dakṣa’s Means for Increasing Progeny

Devanagari script

इति निश्चित्य ते पुत्रास्सुधियश्चैकचेतसः । प्रणम्य तं परिक्रम्यायुर्मार्गमनिवर्तकम्

Transliteration

iti niścitya te putrāssudhiyaścaikacetasaḥ | praṇamya taṃ parikramyāyurmārgamanivartakam

Translation

既已如此决断，那些儿子——聪慧而一心——向他顶礼，并绕行作礼。随后他们踏上那不失之道：使人回转离世俗之途，趋向恒久吉祥。

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक/समाप्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative/thus)

• निश्चित्य: having decided
• निश्चित्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-चित् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund): having ascertained/decided

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Karta/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘they’ (those)

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: कर्ता (Karta/subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; apposition to ‘ते’

• सुधियः: wise
• सुधियः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण of ‘पुत्राः’

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

• एक-चेतसः: single-minded
• एक-चेतसः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: एकं चेतः येषाम् = ‘single-minded’

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund): having bowed

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of ‘प्रणम्य/परिक्रम्य’

• परिक्रम्य: having circumambulated
• परिक्रम्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund): having circumambulated

• आयुः: life / lifespan
• आयुः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/modifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; used as first member in compound with ‘मार्गम्’ (as adjective-like)

• मार्गम्: path
• मार्गम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object (understood: they took/followed)

• अनिवर्तकम्: irreversible / not returning
• अनिवर्तकम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिवर्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘मार्गम्’: ‘irreversible/not turning back’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shaiva siddhanta-oriented discipline: firm resolve (niścaya), one-pointedness (ekacetas), and surrender through pranama and parikrama—outer acts that express inner turning away from worldly entanglement toward Shiva as Pati (the liberating Lord).

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

Bowing and circumambulation are classic forms of Saguna Shiva/Linga worship, training the mind to revolve around Shiva alone; this devotional orientation is presented as an ‘unfailing path’ that redirects life toward grace and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform pranama and clockwise parikrama with a one-pointed mind—ideally while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); in temple practice this is commonly paired with Linga-darshana, offering, and steady japa.