Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41

विष्णुचेष्टितवर्णनम् / Account of Viṣṇu’s Stratagem and Its Aftermath

Devanagari script

ततश्चैतास्सुरान्दृष्ट्वा प्रणतान्भक्तवत्सलः । बीजानि प्रददुस्तेभ्यो वाक्यमूचुश्च सादरम्

Transliteration

tataścaitāssurāndṛṣṭvā praṇatānbhaktavatsalaḥ | bījāni pradadustebhyo vākyamūcuśca sādaram

Translation

随后，主见诸天俯伏归命，乃以慈爱护念信众之心，赐予他们诸种子之力（bīja），并以恭敬与慈和之语对他们开示。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादान/क्रमवाचक अव्यय (thereupon/then)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• एतान्: these
• एतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• सुरान्: gods
• सुरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• प्रणतान्: bowed down
• प्रणतान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; qualifying ‘सुरान्’

• भक्तवत्सलः: (he who is) affectionate to devotees
• भक्तवत्सलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘devotees’ + ‘affectionate’; used as substantive epithet

• बीजानि: seeds
• बीजानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• प्रददुः: gave
• प्रददुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• तेभ्यः: to them
• तेभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), बहुवचन

• वाक्यम्: words, speech
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• सादरम्: respectfully
• सादरम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स + आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘with respect’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the actions of Lord Shiva within the Yuddha Khanda narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s anugraha (grace): when the devas surrender in humility, the Lord responds as bhaktavatsala, granting spiritual potency (bīja) and guidance—showing that divine help follows genuine prapatti (surrender).

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

The verse portrays Saguna Shiva as the compassionate Lord who actively bestows mantra-power and instruction; such grace is traditionally accessed through disciplined worship—often centered on the Shiva-Linga with mantra-japa and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-sādhana is implied: receiving/holding the bīja with faith, performing japa with purity and devotion, and supporting it through Shaiva observances such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), Rudrākṣa, and regular Shiva-pūjā—especially emphasized during Mahāśivarātri.