Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

कार्त्तिकेयान्वेषण-नन्दिसंवाद-वर्णनम्

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Devanagari script

यूयं च साक्षिणो विश्वे सततं सर्वकर्मणाम् । युष्माकं निह्नुतं किम्वा किं ज्ञातुं वक्तुमर्हथ

Transliteration

yūyaṃ ca sākṣiṇo viśve satataṃ sarvakarmaṇām | yuṣmākaṃ nihnutaṃ kimvā kiṃ jñātuṃ vaktumarhatha

Translation

„Ihr seid die allsehenden Zeugen des Weltalls und schaut beständig auf jede Tat. Was könnte euch also verborgen bleiben? Was wüsstet ihr nicht—und wozu müsste man es euch sagen?“

Word by Word

• यूयम्: you (all)
• यूयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• साक्षिणः: witnesses
• साक्षिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विश्वे: O all (witnesses)
• विश्वे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), बहुवचन; विशेषणरूपेण संबोधन

• सततम्: always
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• सर्वकर्मणाम्: of all actions
• सर्वकर्मणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः सर्वेषां कर्मणाम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• युष्माकम्: of you (all)
• युष्माकम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम

• निह्नुतम्: hidden
• निह्नुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-ह्नु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• ज्ञातुम्: to know
• ज्ञातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + तुमुन्
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थ (to know)

• वक्तुम्: to say
• वक्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + तुमुन्
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थ (to speak)

• अर्हथ: you are able/ought
• अर्हथ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम

Speaker

Sanatkumara (narrative voice within the Kumārakhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that nothing can truly be hidden from the cosmic Witness; in Shaiva thought, living with awareness of the ever-present sakshi fosters humility, ethical conduct, and readiness for Shiva’s grace that loosens bondage (pāśa).

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

The Liṅga symbolizes Shiva as the ever-present reality and witness; remembering Shiva as sākṣī during worship turns ritual into inner accountability—offering one’s actions and intentions, not merely external gifts.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sakshi-bhāva (witness-awareness) while japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and before applying tripuṇḍra or offering bilva, mentally review one’s deeds and surrender them to Shiva for purification.