Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

प्रभुं प्रणम्य सद्भक्त्या मिलित्वा हरिमादरात् । संमतो विधिना प्रीत्या संतस्थौ शिवशासनात्

Transliteration

prabhuṃ praṇamya sadbhaktyā militvā harimādarāt | saṃmato vidhinā prītyā saṃtasthau śivaśāsanāt

Translation

他以至诚敬信向主顶礼，又恭敬会见哈利（毗湿奴，Viṣṇu）；依正当仪轨蒙受亲切迎接后，便安然停住，遵奉湿婆的命令。

Word by Word

• प्रभुम्: the Lord
• प्रभुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-क्रियापद (gerund/क्त्वा), उपसर्ग: प्र-, धातु: नम् (to bow)

• सद्भक्त्या: with true devotion
• सद्भक्त्या: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (सत्-भक्ति = true devotion)

• मिलित्वा: having met
• मिलित्वा: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मिल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-क्रियापद (gerund/क्त्वा), धातु: मिल् (to meet/join)

• हरिम्: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: अपादान/हेतु (Apādāna/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (ablative of cause)

• संमतः: approved/accepted
• संमतः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संमत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle sense: approved/accepted)

• विधिना: by proper procedure
• विधिना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: करण/भाव (Instrument/attitude)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• संतस्थौ: stood/remained
• संतस्थौ: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; उपसर्ग: सम्-, धातु: स्था (to stand/remain)

• शिवशासनात्: due to Shiva's command
• शिवशासनात्: अपादान/हेतु (Apādāna/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य शासनम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models proper approach (vidhi) and bhakti: praṇāma, respectful meeting, and obedience to Śiva’s śāsana—core to temple etiquette and siddhāntic discipline (ācāra).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu (Hari)

FAQs

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

It highlights that sincere bhakti must be joined with right conduct (vidhi) and inner steadiness, and that spiritual progress is protected by faithfully following Śiva’s command (śāsana).

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

The verse emphasizes obedience to Śiva’s directive and devotional humility—key attitudes in Saguna Śiva worship, where honoring Śiva’s will and approaching the divine with reverence are central to Linga-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice reverential namaskāra with sincere devotion, follow prescribed worship-steps (vidhi) in daily pūjā, and cultivate composed steadiness (saṃtāna/sthairya) while repeating the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”