Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31

भक्तिभेदाः—ज्ञानप्रधानभक्तेः प्रशंसा

Grades of Devotees and the Praise of Knowledge-Centered Devotion

Devanagari script

दक्ष संमानितः प्रीत्या महादेवोपि सद्गतिः । कैलासं स ययौ शैलं सुप्रीतस्सगणो निजम्

Transliteration

dakṣa saṃmānitaḥ prītyā mahādevopi sadgatiḥ | kailāsaṃ sa yayau śailaṃ suprītassagaṇo nijam

Translation

如是，达叉以爱敬礼遇之，常住于至上吉祥之道的摩诃提婆遂启程离去；并与诸伽那眷属同怀欢喜，回归自有之山居——凯拉萨。

Word by Word

• दक्ष: Dakṣa
• दक्ष: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (proper noun)

• संमानितः: honoured
• संमानितः: Vidheya (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + मान् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; “honoured”

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (instrumental: with affection)

• महादेवः: Mahādeva
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् देवः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक अव्यय (also/even)

• सद्गतिः: one of noble course / of good destiny
• सद्गतिः: Vidheya (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सत्-गति), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपाधि/विशेषणरूपेण

• कैलासम्: to Kailāsa
• कैलासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैलास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (accusative of motion)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• शैलम्: the mountain
• शैलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘mountain’ (कैलासस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन)

• सुप्रीतः: very pleased
• सुप्रीतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + प्रीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘very pleased’

• सगणः: with (his) attendants
• सगणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गणैः सह), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निजम्: his own
• निजम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; शैलम्/कैलासम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Remembrance of Śiva’s own dhāma (abode) as the transcendent seat of the Lord beyond worldly rites; inspires vairāgya and bhakti.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daksha
• Ganas
• Kailasa

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s pure auspiciousness (sadgati) and His freedom from ego: even when honored, He remains inwardly established and simply returns to Kailasa, modeling detached grace and divine order.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva—Mahadeva with His gaṇas and abode—encouraging devotees to approach Shiva with reverent love, which in Shaiva practice culminates in Linga-worship as the accessible, merciful form of the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer respectful worship with prīti (devotional sincerity), then conclude with a calm return to remembrance of Shiva—mentally ‘returning to Kailasa’ through japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and a brief meditation on Shiva as the ever-auspicious Lord.