Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 58

शिवशिवयोर्जगत्पितृमातृत्व-प्रतिपादनं तथा मेनायाः विमोहः (Śiva–Śivā as Cosmic Father and Mother; Menā’s Delusion and the Sages’ Intervention)

Devanagari script

एकार्थे नहि शैलेश नाश्यास्सर्वा हि सम्पदः । एकं त्यजेत्कुलस्यार्थे श्रुतिरेषा सनातनी

Transliteration

ekārthe nahi śaileśa nāśyāssarvā hi sampadaḥ | ekaṃ tyajetkulasyārthe śrutireṣā sanātanī

Translation

يا سيّد الجبال، إذا لم يُصَنِ الهدفُ الواحدُ ضاعت كلُّ النِّعَم. ولأجل مصلحة الأسرة ينبغي أن يُتْرَكَ حتى واحدٌ؛ فهذه هي التعاليم الأزلية للشرُوتي.

Word by Word

• एक-अर्थे: for one purpose / in one matter
• एक-अर्थे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Masculine, Locative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘एकस्य अर्थे’ / ‘एके अर्थे’ (in/for one purpose)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• शैलेश: O lord of mountains!
• शैलेश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैलेश (प्रातिपदिक; शैल + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; Masculine, Vocative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘शैलानाम् ईशः’ (lord of mountains)

• नाश्याः: perishable / liable to be lost
• नाश्याः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाश्य (प्रातिपदिक; √नश् धातु + यत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Plural; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive): ‘to be destroyed/perishable’

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• सम्पदः: prosperities/wealths
• सम्पदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• एकम्: one (thing/person)
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• त्यजेत्: should abandon
• त्यजेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Optative, 3rd person, Singular; परस्मैपद

• कुलस्य: of the family
• कुलस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• अर्थे: for the sake (of)
• अर्थे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Masculine, Locative, Singular

• श्रुतिः: scriptural teaching
• श्रुतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• एषा: this
• एषा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular (demonstrative)

• सनातनी: eternal
• सनातनी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

Pārvatī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Himalaya

FAQs

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

It teaches ekārtha—one-pointed commitment to dharma. When unity of purpose is lost, auspiciousness declines; Śruti upholds tyāga (renunciation) for the greater good, which purifies attachment and supports spiritual maturity.

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

Linga worship trains the devotee in single-minded focus (ekāgratā) and offering of self-interest. By surrendering personal claims for a higher dharmic aim, one aligns with Saguna Shiva as the upholder of order and the giver of grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt one-pointed japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and practice a small, concrete tyāga—giving up one attachment or habit for dharma—while maintaining daily Śiva-pūjā with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and a steady, disciplined mind.