Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

जालन्धरस्य दूतप्रेषणम् — Jalandhara Sends an Envoy to Kailāsa

The Provocation of Śiva

Devanagari script

तत्र गत्वेति वक्तव्यं योगिनं दूत शंकरम् । जटाधरं विरक्तं तं निर्भयेन हृदा त्वया

Transliteration

tatra gatveti vaktavyaṃ yoginaṃ dūta śaṃkaram | jaṭādharaṃ viraktaṃ taṃ nirbhayena hṛdā tvayā

Translation

“使者啊，你去那里，把话传给商羯罗（Śaṅkara）——那位大瑜伽者。以无畏之心，对那位结发之主、全然离著者陈说。”

Word by Word

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

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• वक्तव्यम्: is to be said / should be spoken
• वक्तव्यम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• योगिनम्: the yogi
• योगिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Acc, Singular)

• दूत: O messenger
• दूत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Vocative, Singular)

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Acc, Singular)

• जटाधरम्: the matted-hair bearer
• जटाधरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जटा-धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Acc, Singular)

• विरक्तम्: detached
• विरक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरक्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Acc, Singular)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Acc, Singular)

• निर्भयेन: with fearlessness
• निर्भयेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental, Singular); भाव/करणवाचक

• हृदा: with (your) heart
• हृदा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Singular)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental, Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa dialogue to the sages, conveying the instruction given to a messenger)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

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 Śiva as the supreme Yogin—naturally detached (vairāgya) and beyond worldly intimidation—so a seeker (or envoy) must approach him with inner fearlessness and sincerity, reflecting the Shaiva ideal of courage born from devotion and right understanding.

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

Calling him Jaṭādhara and Śaṅkara points to Saguna Śiva—approachable through form, names, and symbols—yet described as virakta, reminding devotees that the Linga worship leads the mind from outer form to Śiva’s transcendent, unattached reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is fearless, steady-hearted japa and dhyāna: approach Śiva with a composed mind (nirbhaya-hṛdaya), supported by Panchākṣarī mantra remembrance and yogic steadiness rather than anxiety or pride.