Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

शिवदूतस्य शङ्खचूडकुलप्रवेशः — The Śiva-Envoy’s Entry into Śaṅkhacūḍa’s City

Devanagari script

इन्द्राद्यास्सकला देवा यस्याज्ञावर्तिनस्सदा । सप्रजापतयस्सिद्धा मुनयश्चाप्यहीश्वराः

Transliteration

indrādyāssakalā devā yasyājñāvartinassadā | saprajāpatayassiddhā munayaścāpyahīśvarāḥ

Translation

因陀罗及一切诸天，恒常依从那至上主宰的圣命而行；连同诸般生主（Prajāpati）、成就者（Siddha）与诸牟尼圣贤——乃至龙蛇之王（Nāga）亦皆处于祂的主权之下。

Word by Word

• indrādyāḥ: Indra and others
• indrādyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘Indra and others’ (ādi-śabda)

• sakalāḥ: all, entire
• sakalāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying devāḥ

• devāḥ: gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun ‘whose’

• ājñā-vartinaḥ: obedient to (his) command
• ājñā-vartinaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ājñā (प्रातिपदिक) + vartin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘obedient to (his) command’

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• sa-prajāpatayaḥ: together with the Prajāpatis
• sa-prajāpatayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘with’) + prajāpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); अव्ययीभाव ‘together with the Prajāpatis’

• siddhāḥ: Siddhas (perfected beings)
• siddhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); class of beings

• munayaḥ: sages
• munayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) meaning ‘also/even’

• ahīśvarāḥ: lords of serpents (Nāga chiefs)
• ahīśvarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahi + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-तत्पुरुष sense ‘lords of serpents’ (Nāga-lords)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms Śiva as the supreme Pati whose ājñā governs all devatās; contemplation strengthens śaraṇāgati (refuge-taking) and humility before divine ordinance.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Devas
• Prajapatis
• Siddhas
• Munis
• Naga lords
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It asserts Shiva as the supreme Pati (Lord) whose will governs even the highest cosmic powers—devas, Prajapatis, Siddhas, sages, and Nāga rulers—supporting the Shaiva Siddhanta view that all authority ultimately rests in Shiva.

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

By declaring universal obedience to Shiva’s command, the verse justifies Saguna worship—especially the Shiva Linga—as a direct means to honor the supreme governor of the cosmos, not merely one deity among many.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined “ājñā-anusaraṇa” (living in alignment with Shiva’s will) supported by daily japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offered with bhakti before the Linga.