Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1

विष्णोर्दर्शनं स्तुतिश्च

Viṣṇu’s Manifestation and Brahmā’s Hymn

Devanagari script

नारद उवाच । ब्रह्मन् विधे महाभाग धन्यस्त्वं शिवसक्तधीः । कथितं सुचरित्रं ते शंकरस्य परात्मनः

Transliteration

nārada uvāca | brahman vidhe mahābhāga dhanyastvaṃ śivasaktadhīḥ | kathitaṃ sucaritraṃ te śaṃkarasya parātmanaḥ

Translation

Nārada sprach: „O Brahmane, o Schöpfer (Vidhe), o überaus Glückseliger—gesegnet bist du, dessen Erkenntnis Śiva geweiht ist. Du hast die edle und glückverheißende Lebensgeschichte Śaṅkaras, des höchsten Selbst, erzählt.“

Word by Word

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman/Brahmā
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (addressing Brahmā), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• विधे: O Creator (Vidhātā)
• विधे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् भागः यस्य/महाभागः)

• धन्यः: blessed; fortunate
• धन्यः: Visheshya (विशेष्य/Predicate of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of ‘त्वम्’)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शिव-सक्त-धीः: whose mind is devoted to Śiva
• शिव-सक्त-धीः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + सक्त (कृदन्त; √सञ्ज्/सज्) + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शिवे सक्तः या धीः यस्य)

• कथितम्: told; narrated
• कथितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here predicate: ‘has been told’

• सु-चरित्रम्: excellent story/character
• सु-चरित्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + चरित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सुन्दरं चरित्रम्)

• ते: of you; your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• शंकरस्य: of Śaṅkara
• शंकरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• परात्मनः: of the Supreme Self
• परात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (परः आत्मा = supreme self)

Speaker

Narada

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Brahma
• Shiva
• Shankara

FAQs

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

The verse honors the highest spiritual orientation: a mind and intellect devoted to Shiva (śiva-sakta-dhī). It also identifies Shiva as Paratman, teaching that devotion to Shiva is not merely emotional worship but alignment with the Supreme Reality that grants liberation.

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

By calling Shiva “Shankara” (the auspicious Lord) and also “Paratman,” the verse bridges Saguna devotion and the ultimate truth: worship of Shiva in form (including Linga worship) is a valid doorway to realizing Shiva as the Supreme Self beyond limitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to cultivate śiva-sakta-dhī through daily Shiva-japa (especially the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and attentive listening/recitation of Shiva-kathā (sacred narration), treating it as a meditative discipline.