Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1

शिवपुत्रजननवर्णनम् — Description of the Birth/Manifestation of Śiva’s Son

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । तदाकर्ण्य महादेवो योगज्ञानविशारदः । त्यक्तकामो न तत्याज संभोगं पार्वतीभयात्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | tadākarṇya mahādevo yogajñānaviśāradaḥ | tyaktakāmo na tatyāja saṃbhogaṃ pārvatībhayāt

Translation

Brahmā sprach: Als Mahādeva, kundig in der Erkenntnis des Yoga, dies vernahm, gab er, obgleich frei von Begierde, die eheliche Vereinigung nicht auf — aus Achtung und aus Furcht, Pārvatī zu missfallen.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्म: Brahmā
• ब्रह्म: 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/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; आकर्ण्य इत्यस्य कर्म

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कर्ण् (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावकृदन्त (Gerund/ल्यबन्त), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘आकर्ण्य’ = having heard

• महादेवः: Mahādeva
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् देवः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• योगज्ञानविशारदः: skilled in yogic knowledge
• योगज्ञानविशारदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (योगज्ञानस्य विशारदः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; महादेवः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• त्यक्तकामः: one who has abandoned desire
• त्यक्तकामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यज् (धातु) → त्यक्त (कृदन्त) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (त्यक्तः कामः येन सः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; महादेवः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• न: not
• न: None (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• तत्याज: abandoned
• तत्याज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• संभोगम्: union, conjugal enjoyment
• संभोगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संभोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• पार्वतीभयात्: out of fear of Pārvatī
• पार्वतीभयात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वती (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पार्वत्याः भयम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; कारणार्थे

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva as Pati (the Lord) who is intrinsically beyond kāma (desire), yet outwardly participates in worldly life to uphold dharma and divine intention—illustrating mastery over impulses rather than mere avoidance.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva’s līlā as householder with Pārvatī while remaining Nirguṇa in essence; Linga worship similarly points to the formless Absolute while honoring His manifest, compassionate presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Śiva as Yogīśvara while chanting the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating inner vairāgya (detachment) alongside disciplined household duties; this supports steady meditation and ethical living.