Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 54

सतीकृतप्रार्थना तथा परतत्त्वजिज्ञासा — Satī’s Prayer and Inquiry into the Supreme Principle

Devanagari script

सामुद्रिकं परं शास्त्रमन्यच्छास्त्राणि भूरिशः । कृपां कृत्वा महे शानो वर्णयामास तत्त्वतः

Transliteration

sāmudrikaṃ paraṃ śāstramanyacchāstrāṇi bhūriśaḥ | kṛpāṃ kṛtvā mahe śāno varṇayāmāsa tattvataḥ

Translation

بدافع الرحمة، شرح الربّ ماهيشانا شرحًا صادقًا الشاسترا السامودريكا العليا، ومعها شروحًا كثيرةً أخرى، مبيّنًا إياها وفق أصولها الحقيقية.

Word by Word

• sāmudrikam: pertaining to the ocean; ‘Sāmudrika’
• sāmudrikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāmudrika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies ‘śāstram’

• param: supreme; excellent
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies ‘śāstram’

• śāstram: treatise; scripture
• śāstram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• anyat: other
• anyat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies ‘śāstrāṇi’ (collective)

• śāstrāṇi: treatises; scriptures
• śāstrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• bhūriśaḥ: abundantly; in many ways
• bhūriśaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūriśaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘in many ways/abundantly’)

• kṛpām: compassion; grace
• kṛpām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kṛtvā: having done; having shown
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• mahe: O great one
• mahe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mah (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन; used as honorific epithet ‘in/for the great (one)’ → vocative-like address

• śānaḥ: Śāna (Śiva)
• śānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāna (प्रातिपदिक; epithet of Śiva, ‘auspicious/beneficent’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• varṇayāmāsa: described; explained
• varṇayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: varṇ (वर्ण् धातु) + ṇic (णिच् causative)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; causative ‘described/explained’

• tattvataḥ: truly; in essence
• tattvataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tattvataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: तत्त्वतः-इति प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘in truth/according to reality’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s compassionate exposition within the Rudrasaṃhitā narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames Śiva as compassionate teacher who reveals śāstra-s (here Sāmudrika and others) according to tattva (first principles).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as Maheśāna—the compassionate Guru of all beings—who teaches not merely worldly knowledge but “tattvataḥ,” grounded in ultimate reality, aligning learning with liberation-oriented Shaiva understanding.

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

By presenting Śiva as the merciful revealer of śāstra, it supports Saguna devotion: the devotee approaches the personal Lord (Linga/Saguna Śiva) as the source of right knowledge and grace that clarifies true principles.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is to seek Śiva’s grace through regular Śiva-upāsanā—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined study/listening (śravaṇa) of śāstra with a tattva-focused intent.