Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 32

Aditi’s Lament and Kaśyapa’s Instruction of the Payo-vrata (Milk Vow) to Please Keśava

Devanagari script

नम: शिवाय रुद्राय नम: शक्तिधराय च । सर्वविद्याधिपतये भूतानां पतये नम: ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

namaḥ śivāya rudrāya namaḥ śakti-dharāya ca sarva-vidyādhipataye bhūtānāṁ pataye namaḥ

Translation

Verehrung Dir, Rudra, Śiva: Träger aller Kräfte, Herr über alles Wissen und Gebieter aller Wesen; vor Dir verneige ich mich.

Synonyms

• नमः: salutations
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• शिवाय: to Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रुद्राय: to Rudra
• रुद्राय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नमः: salutations
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• शक्तिधराय: to the wielder of power
• शक्तिधराय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति-धर (प्रातिपदिक; शक्ति + धर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: शक्तिं धरतीति (bearer of power)

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

• सर्वविद्याधिपतये: to the lord of all knowledge
• सर्वविद्याधिपतये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-विद्या-अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + विद्या + अधिपति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: सर्वासां विद्याणाम् अधिपतिः

• भूतानाम्: of beings
• भूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पतये: to the lord
• पतये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नमः: salutations
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

Purport

It is the system for one to offer obeisances unto the expansion or incarnation of the Lord. Lord Śiva is the incarnation of ignorance, one of the material modes of nature.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Rudra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about offering obeisances to Lord Shiva?

This verse presents Śiva/Rudra as auspicious, powerful, and the presiding lord of knowledge and beings, showing that honoring him with reverence is part of devotional prayer within the Bhagavatam’s worship culture.

Why does Aditi praise Rudra/Śiva in Canto 8 Chapter 16?

During the Payo-vrata worship context, Aditi offers comprehensive prayers acknowledging exalted devas; praising Rudra highlights his role as an empowered, auspicious guardian and master of knowledge, harmonizing devotion and cosmic order.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life?

Cultivate humility through namaskāra (respect), seek true knowledge with reverence, and remember the welfare of all beings—seeing spiritual power as meant for protection and upliftment, not ego.