Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा तानब्रवीद्विष्णुः प्रणिपत्य पुरःस्थितान् । भूतान्यज्ञपतिः श्रीमानुद्राज्ञाप्रतिपालकः

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā tānabravīdviṣṇuḥ praṇipatya puraḥsthitān | bhūtānyajñapatiḥ śrīmānudrājñāpratipālakaḥ

Translation

见他们立于面前，毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）——光辉的祭祀之主——俯首顶礼，遂对那些众生开口；因为他忠诚奉行鲁陀罗（Rudra）的命令。

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), 'having seen'

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रणिपत्य: having prostrated
• प्रणिपत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-ṇi-pat (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), 'having bowed down'

• पुरः-स्थितान्: standing in front
• पुरः-स्थितान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puraḥ (अव्यय) + sthita (प्रातिपदिक; √sthā धातु से क्त)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव समास: 'पुरः स्थित' = 'in front, standing'; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'तान्/भूतान्')

• भूतान्: the beings (bhūtas)
• भूतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• यज्ञपतिः: lord of sacrifice
• यज्ञपतिः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'यज्ञस्य पतिः'

• श्रीमान्: glorious, illustrious
• श्रीमान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'विष्णुः')

• उद्र-आज्ञा-प्रतिपालकः: follower of Rudra's command
• उद्र-आज्ञा-प्रतिपालकः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udra (प्रातिपदिक) + ājñā (प्रातिपदिक) + pratipālaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (nested): 'उद्रस्य आज्ञायाः प्रतिपालकः' = 'observer of Rudra's command'

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Rudra (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It highlights divine humility and cosmic hierarchy: even Viṣṇu, as yajñapati, honors Rudra’s ājñā—teaching that liberation-oriented dharma is fulfilled by surrender to Śiva (Pati) and alignment with His will.

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

By calling Viṣṇu the ‘upholder of Rudra’s command,’ the verse supports Saguna Śiva devotion where Śiva’s authority is revered in manifest form—Linga worship embodies that living divine presence and the devotee’s reverent submission.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate practice is praṇipāta (reverential bowing) paired with ājñā-anusaraṇa (obedience to Śiva’s injunctions); in daily worship this aligns with offering bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and japa of the Pañcākṣarī ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’ with humility.