Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 30

शिवतत्त्ववर्णनम् (Śiva-tattva-varṇana) — “Description/Exposition of the Principle of Śiva”

Devanagari script

मद्रूपं परमं ब्रह्मन्नीदृशं भवदंगतः । प्रकटीभविता लोके नाम्ना रुद्रः प्रकीर्तितः

Transliteration

madrūpaṃ paramaṃ brahmannīdṛśaṃ bhavadaṃgataḥ | prakaṭībhavitā loke nāmnā rudraḥ prakīrtitaḥ

Translation

«يا براهما، إنّ البراهمان الأسمى—وهو من ذاتي—سيتجلّى من جسدك على هذا النحو؛ وفي العالم سيُشتهر باسم “رودرا”.»

Word by Word

• मत्-रूपम्: my form
• मत्-रूपम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक; षष्ठी-समासार्थ) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मम रूपम्)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; रूपम् इति विशेषणम्

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman
• ब्रह्मन्: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• ईदृशम्: such/like this
• ईदृशम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; रूपम् इति विशेषणम्

• भवत्-अङ्गतः: from your body
• भवत्-अङ्गतः: अपादान (Apādāna/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + तस्/तः (तद्धित/अव्ययीभावार्थ)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययप्रयोगः—‘from your body/limb’

• प्रकटी-भविता: will become manifest
• प्रकटी-भविता: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रकटी (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + √भू (धातु) + तृच्/तृन् (कृदन्त; भविष्यत्कर्तरि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भविष्यत्कर्तरि कृदन्त (agent noun) — ‘one who will become manifest’ (periphrastic future sense)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• नाम्ना: by the name
• नाम्ना: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: कर्ता/विधेय (Subject/Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• प्रकीर्तितः: is proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तितः: विधेय (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + √कीर्त्/√कीर् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), कर्मणि—‘is proclaimed/called’

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: emanation/manifestation of Rudra from Brahmā’s body in the cosmogony

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It identifies the supreme reality (paramaṃ brahma) as Shiva’s own nature and shows that the cosmic function of Rudra arises by Shiva’s will—teaching that liberation comes from recognizing Shiva as the highest principle behind creation.

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

By stating that the supreme Brahman becomes manifest and known as Rudra, the verse supports Saguna worship: the formless supreme is approachable through a manifest form—commonly revered as Shiva in Linga worship and Rudra-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is Rudra-dhyāna and japa: meditate on Shiva as the supreme Brahman manifesting as Rudra, and repeat the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a practical means to align with that supreme reality.