Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras

Devanagari script

विशेषतस्तवैवार्थमागता वृपभध्वज । सहार्थिनस्सदायोग्यमन्यथा न जगद्भवेत्

Transliteration

viśeṣatastavaivārthamāgatā vṛpabhadhvaja | sahārthinassadāyogyamanyathā na jagadbhavet

Translation

噢，牛旗之主（Vṛṣabhadhvaja）——湿婆啊，我此来尤其只为你。怀同一神圣旨趣者恒宜相合；否则，世间的秩序本身也无法长存。

Word by Word

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण)

• तव: of you/for you
• तव: Shashthi-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• अर्थम्: purpose
• अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आगताः: having come / have come
• आगताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु) → आगत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकालिक कृदन्त (क्त), प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘आगताः’ = ‘(we) have come’ (elliptic)

• वृषभध्वज: O bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• वृषभध्वज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वृषभस्य ध्वजः)

• सह: together/with
• सह: Sahartha (सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (सहार्थक उपसर्गवत्/पूर्वपद), ‘with’ अर्थे

• अर्थिनः: seekers (of a boon)
• अर्थिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘petitioners/seekers’

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• योग्यम्: proper/fit
• योग्यम्: Vidhaya-visheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भवेत्: would be / might exist
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/सम्भावना), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sati (addressing Lord Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: vṛṣabhadhvaja

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

Sati affirms that her approach to Shiva is not worldly but purpose-driven—union grounded in dharma and shared spiritual intent sustains cosmic order, reflecting Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on alignment with Pati (Shiva) as the highest aim.

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

By addressing Shiva as Vṛṣabhadhvaja, the verse highlights Saguna Shiva—approachable through names, forms, and devotion—implying that right relationship and intent are central to worship, just as Linga-upasana is anchored in focused purpose and reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is ekāgratā (single-pointed intent) in Shiva-bhakti—steady japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a clear spiritual aim, supported by regular Shiva-puja according to one’s capacity.