Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

कैलासमार्गे शङ्करस्य परीक्षा — Śiva Tests the Approachers on the Kailāsa Path

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा बृहस्पतिस्तूर्णं प्रज्वलंतं स्वतेजसा । पुरुषं तं धिया ज्ञात्वा प्रणनाम हरं प्रभुम्

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā bṛhaspatistūrṇaṃ prajvalaṃtaṃ svatejasā | puruṣaṃ taṃ dhiyā jñātvā praṇanāma haraṃ prabhum

Translation

婆罗诃斯波提见那神圣之人以自性光辉顿然炽燃，便以明辨之智认出祂，遂恭敬顶礼于诃罗——至上主宰。

Word by Word

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु) → dṛṣṭvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त/gerund), from √dṛś (to see)

• bṛhaspatiḥ: Bṛhaspati
• bṛhaspatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhaspati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tūrṇam: quickly
• tūrṇam: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• prajvalantam: blazing
• prajvalantam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + jval (धातु) → jvalant (कृदन्त/शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); उपसर्गः—प्र

• sva-tejasā: by his own radiance
• sva-tejasā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कर्मधारय: स्वं तेजः)

• puruṣam: the person (being)
• puruṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tam: that (one)
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); सर्वनाम

• dhiyā: by (his) understanding
• dhiyā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• jñātvā: having known/recognized
• jñātvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु) → jñātvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त/gerund), from √jñā (to know)

• praṇanāma: bowed down
• praṇanāma: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + nam (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः—प्र

• haram: Hara (Śiva)
• haram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• prabhum: the Lord
• prabhum: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhaspati
• Hara (Śiva)

FAQs

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

It teaches that true recognition of Śiva (Pati) is not merely sensory but arises through dhi—purified discernment—leading naturally to praṇāma (humble surrender), the seed of liberation in Shaiva Siddhānta.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna-darśana—Śiva perceived as the radiant Lord with svatejas—yet recognized as the Supreme Person; this supports Linga-worship as a concrete focus for devotion where the formless is approached through a sacred form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate dhi through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and conclude with praṇāma; the practical takeaway is reverent surrender after darśana/japa, aligning the mind to Śiva as Prabhu.