Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11

देवस्तुतिः—शिवस्य परब्रह्मत्वं, मायाशक्तिः, कर्मफलप्रदातृत्वं च

Devas’ Hymn: Śiva as Parabrahman, Māyā-Śakti, and Giver of Karmic Fruits

Devanagari script

नमो रुद्राय शांताय ब्रह्मणे परमात्मने । कपर्दिने महेशाय ज्योत्स्नाय महते नमः

Transliteration

namo rudrāya śāṃtāya brahmaṇe paramātmane | kapardine maheśāya jyotsnāya mahate namaḥ

Translation

السجودُ لِرُدرا السَّكِينَةِ؛ والسجودُ لِلبَرهمَن، للذّاتِ العُليا. السجودُ لكَپَردين، لمهيشا الرَّبِّ العظيم؛ والسجودُ للعظيمِ الذي يَتَلألأُ كإشراقٍ نورانيٍّ.

Word by Word

• namaḥ: salutations
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya); नमस्कारार्थक-निपात (salutatory particle/interjection)

• rudrāya: to Rudra
• rudrāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• śāntāya: to the peaceful one
• śāntāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) rudrāya

• brahmaṇe: to Brahman
• brahmaṇe: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन

• paramātmane: to the Supreme Self
• paramātmane: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama-ātman (प्रातिपदिक; परम् + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (the supreme Self)

• kapardine: to the matted-haired one
• kapardine: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapardin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन

• maheśāya: to Maheśa (Great Lord)
• maheśāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-īśa (प्रातिपदिक; महा + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समास (great lord)

• jyotsnāya: to the moonlight (radiance)
• jyotsnāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyotsnā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन

• mahate: to the great one
• mahate: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• namaḥ: salutations
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya); नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, within the Rudra Saṃhitā’s Satī-khaṇḍa flow)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific (sthāla) verse; it is a general namaskāra identifying Śiva as Rudra, Maheśa, and the luminous Supreme Self.

Significance: Recitation functions as śiva-smaraṇa and śaraṇāgati; in Siddhānta terms it orients the paśu toward Pati for anugraha (grace).

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: namo rudrāya śāṃtāya brahmaṇe paramātmane | kapardine maheśāya jyotsnāya mahate namaḥ

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies Rudra (Śiva) as both the tranquil Lord and the Supreme Self (Paramātman/Brahman), teaching that devotion to Śiva leads beyond fear and agitation into śānti (inner peace) and liberation-oriented insight.

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

The epithets Kapardin and Maheśa affirm Saguna Śiva—worshipped through form, mantra, and Liṅga—while “Brahman” and “Paramātman” point to the same Śiva as the ultimate, transcendent reality, harmonizing form-worship with the highest metaphysical truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is japa of salutations (namaḥ) while contemplating Śiva as (1) śānta—peace within, and (2) jyotsnā—inner light; this can be paired with Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and mental offering at the Liṅga during daily pūjā or Mahāśivarātri.