Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

भूतत्रिपुरधर्मवर्णनम् (Description of the Dharma/Conduct of the Bhūta-Tripura) — Chapter 3

Devanagari script

तान्वै तथाविधान्दृष्ट्वा हीनान्विनयसंयुतान् । सोपि नारायणः श्रीमांश्चिंतयेच्चेतसा तथा

Transliteration

tānvai tathāvidhāndṛṣṭvā hīnānvinayasaṃyutān | sopi nārāyaṇaḥ śrīmāṃściṃtayeccetasā tathā

Translation

见他们如此光景——虽势微，却具谦卑——光辉的那罗延（Nārāyaṇa）亦在心中深深思惟。就湿婆派（Śaiva）立场而言，毗湿奴此处的内向回观，正表明：在冲突之时，真正的解决之道在于契合湿婆至高的意志与正法，而非仅凭外在之力。

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक (indeed)

• तथाविधान्: such (of that kind)
• तथाविधान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तथा (अव्यय) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास (‘तथा’ + ‘विध’ = of such a kind); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणं ‘तान्’

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): having seen

• हीनान्: deprived, lacking
• हीनान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणं ‘तान्’

• विनयसंयुतान्: endowed with humility
• विनयसंयुतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनय (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: विनयेन संयुताः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणं ‘तान्’

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

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

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu)
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रीमान्: glorious, illustrious
• श्रीमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘नारायणः’

• चिन्तयेत्: would think/consider
• चिन्तयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चेतसा: with (his) mind
• चेतसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/in that manner)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it depicts Nārāyaṇa’s inward contemplation upon seeing the humbled devas—an inward turn that, in Siddhānta reading, signals recognition of a higher dispensation beyond deva power.

Significance: Teaches that even the greatest deities in Purāṇic narrative model humility and reflective discernment before acting; supports the ethic of śaraṇāgati (seeking right alignment).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Narayana (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that humility and inward reflection are signs of spiritual ripeness; even a great deity turns within to discern the higher dharma, which in Shaiva understanding culminates in alignment with Śiva (Pati), the supreme guiding principle.

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

Nārāyaṇa’s contemplation implies seeking the higher refuge beyond mere strategy; in Shiva Purana practice this is expressed through Saguna Śiva-upāsanā—remembering Śiva, honoring the Liṅga, and submitting outcomes to Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is manasa-japa (mental repetition) of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a humble attitude, optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and devotion.