Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 60

विष्णुचेष्टितवर्णनम् / Account of Viṣṇu’s Stratagem and Its Aftermath

Devanagari script

विप्राणां ब्रह्मविद्यादं सत्रियाणां जयप्रदम् । वैश्यानां सर्वधनदं शूद्राणां सुखदं त्विदम्

Transliteration

viprāṇāṃ brahmavidyādaṃ satriyāṇāṃ jayapradam | vaiśyānāṃ sarvadhanadaṃ śūdrāṇāṃ sukhadaṃ tvidam

Translation

هذا تعليم/نسكٌ لشيفا: يمنحُ البراهمةَ معرفةَ البراهمن، ويهبُ الكشاتريا النصر، ويعطي الفيشيا شتّى الأموال، ويمنح الشودرَ الرفاهَ والسعادة.

Word by Word

• विप्राणाम्: of Brahmins
• विप्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्म-विद्या-दम्: giving knowledge of Brahman
• ब्रह्म-विद्या-दम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्मविद्या ददाति इति); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (इदम्/आख्यानम्) इति विशेषण

• क्षत्रियाणाम्: of Kshatriyas
• क्षत्रियाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• जय-प्रदम्: granting victory
• जय-प्रदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (जयम् प्रददाति इति); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (इदम्/आख्यानम्) इति विशेषण

• वैश्यानाम्: of Vaishyas
• वैश्यानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• सर्व-धन-दम्: giving all wealth
• सर्व-धन-दम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + धन (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वं धनं ददाति इति); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (इदम्/आख्यानम्) इति विशेषण

• शूद्राणाम्: of Shudras
• शूद्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• सुख-दम्: giving happiness
• सुख-दम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सुखं ददाति इति); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (इदम्/आख्यानम्) इति विशेषण

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक (emphatic/contrast particle)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता) (अस्ति implied) / Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र विशेष्यरूपेण (this [text])

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages, within the Rudra Saṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Universalizes access to Śiva’s fruits across social functions: jñāna (vipra), victory (kṣatriya), wealth (vaiśya), and sukha (śūdra). Pilgrimage merit is reframed as Śiva’s anugraha responding to adhikāra and need.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-upāsanā is universally beneficent: it uplifts each person according to their dharma while ultimately orienting the soul toward higher knowledge (brahma-vidyā) and well-being under the grace of Pati (Śiva).

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

The verse presents Śiva’s worship as a practical, grace-giving path: through Saguna devotion—especially Linga-upāsanā—devotees receive worldly supports (victory, wealth, happiness) and are prepared for inner realization and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A direct takeaway is steady Śiva-bhakti such as Linga-pūjā with the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); on observance days like Mahāśivarātri, this is traditionally supported by japa, abhiṣeka, and wearing Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and/or Rudrākṣa.