Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

सत्यप्रतिज्ञा-तपःसंवादः

Pārvatī’s Vow of Truth and the Dialogue on Her Tapas

Devanagari script

असद्वस्तु च यत्किंचित् तत्सर्वं स्वयमीहसे । निर्वर्तय मनस्तस्मान्नोचेदिच्छसि तत्कुरु

Transliteration

asadvastu ca yatkiṃcit tatsarvaṃ svayamīhase | nirvartaya manastasmānnocedicchasi tatkuru

Translation

كلُّ ما تسعين إليه من أمرٍ غير حقيقي أو زائل—فإنما تجتهدين فيه كلَّه بإرادتك أنتِ. فاثبتي ذهنك واعزمي؛ وإلا، فإن شئتِ فافعلي ذلك وتحمّلي عاقبته.

Word by Word

• असत्: unreal, non-existent
• असत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; adjective used attributively

• वस्तु: thing, entity
• वस्तु: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• यत्: whatever which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• किंचित्: anything, something
• किंचित्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंचित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभूत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; indefinite pronoun

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• सर्वम्: all, entire
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; adjective

• स्वयम्: by yourself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ईहसे: you strive/attempt
• ईहसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• निर्वर्तय: accomplish, carry out
• निर्वर्तय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्वृत्/वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense ‘cause to be accomplished’

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• उचित्: otherwise/if not
• उचित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (particle in ‘no cet’ = otherwise/if not)

• इच्छसि: you wish
• इच्छसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कुरु: do
• कुरु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches discernment (viveka) and dispassion (vairagya): worldly aims are impermanent (asat), and one should deliberately steady the mind toward Shiva, the enduring Pati, rather than be driven by fleeting desire.

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

By advising mind-control and right intention, it supports Saguna worship (such as Linga-puja) as a practical discipline: the devotee redirects effort from transient objects to Shiva-bhakti, which purifies the mind and loosens bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A clear takeaway is mental restraint and focused devotion—steady the mind through japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and dhyāna on Shiva, rather than chasing impermanent goals.