Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

ज्ञातव्यं बुधवर्यैश्च निर्मलज्ञानिभिः सुरौ । एवं ज्ञात्वा भवभ्यां तु न दृश्यं भेदकार णम्

Transliteration

jñātavyaṃ budhavaryaiśca nirmalajñānibhiḥ surau | evaṃ jñātvā bhavabhyāṃ tu na dṛśyaṃ bhedakāra ṇam

Translation

يا أيها الكائنات الإلهية، ينبغي أن يفهم هذا أفضل الحكماء وأصحاب المعرفة الطاهرة. فإذا عُرف الأمر على هذا النحو، فلن يُرى لكما بعد ذلك سببٌ يُحدث تمايزًا (بينكما).

Word by Word

• ज्ञातव्यम्: (it) should be known
• ज्ञातव्यम्: Karma (कर्म) / Vidheya (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विधेय/आवश्यकता (gerundive: “to be known”)

• बुधवर्यैः: by the best of the wise
• बुधवर्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (बुधानां वर्याः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• निर्मलज्ञानिभिः: by pure knowers
• निर्मलज्ञानिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्मल (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (निर्मलः ज्ञानी), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सुरौ: the two gods
• सुरौ: Karta (कर्ता) / Vishaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), “having known”

• भवभ्याम्: by you two
• भवभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक (भवत्), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया/चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी विभक्ति, द्विवचन; अत्र तृतीया (by you two)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• दृश्यम्: perceptible/seen
• दृश्यम्: Vidheya (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (visible/perceptible)

• भेदकारणम्: cause of difference
• भेदकारणम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Vishaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भेदस्य कारणम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the teaching within the creation account)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that when knowledge becomes nirmala (purified), the sense of separation (bheda) dissolves; the seeker recognizes the one Supreme Reality (Śiva/Pati) beyond rivalry and ego.

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

The Liṅga is worshipped as the unifying sign of the Supreme that transcends competing claims of supremacy; realizing this, devotion shifts from sectarian difference to reverent recognition of Śiva as the highest principle.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate nirmala-jñāna through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady dhyāna on Śiva, supported by Śaiva disciplines like bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa as aids to inner purity.