Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 63

द्वारपाल-गणेशसंवादः / The Dialogue at the Gate: Gaṇeśa and Śiva’s Gaṇas

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वा शंकरो ब्रह्मन् नानालीलाविशारदः । विरराम मुनिश्रेष्ठ दर्शयंल्लौकिकीं गतिम्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ityuktvā śaṃkaro brahman nānālīlāviśāradaḥ | virarāma muniśreṣṭha darśayaṃllaukikīṃ gatim

Translation

ব্রহ্মা বললেন—হে ব্রাহ্মণ! এ কথা বলে, নানাবিধ দিব্য লীলায় পারদর্শী শংকর, হে মুনিশ্রেষ্ঠ, বাহ্য লোকাচার প্রদর্শন করে নীরব হলেন।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; वक्ता

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• इति: thus
• इति: Vacana-marker (वचनचिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उद्धरणसूचक

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having said’

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; संबोधनपदम्

• नाना-लीला-विशारदः: skilled in many divine plays
• नाना-लीला-विशारदः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + लीला (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (determinative): ‘skilled in various sports/plays’

• विरराम: ceased/stopped
• विरराम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• मुनि-श्रेष्ठ: O best of sages
• मुनि-श्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘best of sages’

• दर्शयन्: showing
• दर्शयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + शतृ (प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘showing’

• लौकिकीं: worldly
• लौकिकीं: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लौकिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘worldly/ordinary’

• गतिम्: course/way
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights that Lord Śiva, though transcendent (Pati), can adopt a worldly mode of behavior to teach dharma and guide souls; His silence after speaking indicates the completion of instruction and the profundity of His līlā.

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

By portraying Śiva’s accessible, ‘worldly’ conduct, the verse supports Saguna devotion—approaching Him through form and narrative (including Liṅga worship) while remembering that His līlā is a compassionate means to uplift beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to contemplate Śiva’s līlā and cultivate silent remembrance after japa—especially of the Pañcākṣarī ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’—letting the mind settle into stillness as Śiva ‘ceases’ into calm.