Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्

The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms

Devanagari script

इति प्रश्नोत्तरं दत्तं प्रस्तुतं शृणु नारद । स्मृत्वा शिवपदांभोजं वक्ष्ये सृष्टिविधिं मुने

Transliteration

iti praśnottaraṃ dattaṃ prastutaṃ śṛṇu nārada | smṛtvā śivapadāṃbhojaṃ vakṣye sṛṣṭividhiṃ mune

Translation

هكذا، بعدما أُعطيَ السؤالُ وجوابُه، فاستمع الآن لما يلي يا نارادا. وإذ أستحضرُ قدمي شيفا اللوتسيتين، سأُعلن لك أيها الحكيمُ طريقةَ انبثاق الخلق.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative/thus)

• praśna-uttaram: question and answer (Q&A)
• praśna-uttaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praśna (प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (Acc./Nom. sg.; here as object), समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective dvandva)

• dattam: given
• dattam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा) (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थं ‘given’

• prastutam: presented/introduced
• prastutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-stuta (प्रस्तुत) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• śṛṇu: hear
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु) (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• nārada: O Nārada
• nārada: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (नारद) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

• smṛtvā: having remembered
• smṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (स्मृ) (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• śiva-pada-ambhojam: Śiva’s lotus-feet
• śiva-pada-ambhojam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक) + ambhoja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘शिवस्य पदाम्भोजम्’

• vakṣye: I shall tell
• vakṣye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्) (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• sṛṣṭi-vidhim: the method/process of creation
• sṛṣṭi-vidhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘सृष्टेः विधिम्’

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (मुनि) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga episode; the verse functions as a narrative hinge where Brahmā begins sṛṣṭi-krama after invoking Śiva’s lotus-feet.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śivapadāṃbhojaṃ

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Commencement of sṛṣṭi-vidhi exposition (didactic cosmogony)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Narada

FAQs

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

It establishes that true understanding of creation (sṛṣṭi) begins with Śiva-smaraṇa—remembrance of Śiva’s lotus-feet—showing devotion and grace as the gateway to sacred knowledge in a Shaiva Siddhanta spirit.

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

By invoking Śiva’s lotus-feet before explaining cosmology, the text emphasizes approaching doctrine through reverence to Saguna Śiva (worshipful form), which in practice includes Linga-bhakti and contemplative remembrance as a support for grasping higher truths.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Begin study or recitation with Śiva-smaraṇa: mentally bow to Śiva’s lotus-feet, then proceed—optionally accompanied by Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a preparatory focus.