Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5

जालन्धरस्य दूतप्रेषणम् — Jalandhara Sends an Envoy to Kailāsa

The Provocation of Śiva

Devanagari script

तत्रास्ति योगी शंभ्वाख्य स्तपस्वी च जटाधरः । भस्मभूषितसर्वाङ्गो विरक्तो विजितेन्द्रियः

Transliteration

tatrāsti yogī śaṃbhvākhya stapasvī ca jaṭādharaḥ | bhasmabhūṣitasarvāṅgo virakto vijitendriyaḥ

Translation

彼处住着一位名为商婆（Śaṃbhu）的瑜伽行者——苦行精严，顶戴结发（jata）。其全身以圣灰庄严；离欲无著，已降伏诸根。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable; locative adverb ‘there’)

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd person singular, active)

• योगी: a yogi
• योगी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Singular)

• शंभ्वाख्यः: named Śambhu
• शंभ्वाख्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शंभु-आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (शंभोः आख्या यस्य/शंभुनामकः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Singular)

• तपस्वी: an ascetic
• तपस्वी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Singular)

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

• जटाधरः: wearer of matted hair
• जटाधरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जटा-धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (जटां धरति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Singular)

• भस्मभूषितसर्वाङ्गः: whose whole body is adorned with ash
• भस्मभूषितसर्वाङ्गः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म-भूषित-सर्व-अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि समास (भस्मना भूषितानि सर्वाणि अङ्गानि यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Singular)

• विरक्तः: detached, dispassionate
• विरक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरक्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle from √रञ्ज्/रज् with वि-); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Singular)

• विजितेन्द्रियः: one who has conquered the senses
• विजितेन्द्रियः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजित-इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि समास (विजितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents the Shaiva ideal of a perfected practitioner: austerity (tapas), detachment (vairāgya), and mastery of the senses (indriya-jaya). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, such discipline loosens pāśa (bondage) and turns the being toward Pati (Śiva), the liberating Lord.

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

By describing bhasma-adornment, matted locks, and yogic steadiness, the verse points to Saguna Śiva worship through visible Shaiva marks and disciplined conduct. These external signs support inner remembrance and devotion to Śiva as the Linga’s indwelling reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests adopting Shaiva sādhana: wearing bhasma (Tripuṇḍra/bhasma-dhāraṇa), practicing sense-restraint, and living with tapas and vairāgya—ideally accompanied by japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditation on Śiva.