Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

दक्षस्य तपः तथा जगदम्बायाः प्रत्यक्षता — Dakṣa’s Austerities and the Direct Manifestation of Jagadambā

Devanagari script

केवलं स्वार्थमिति च सर्वेषां जगतामपि । ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवानां च ब्रह्मणा प्रेरितो ह्यहम्

Transliteration

kevalaṃ svārthamiti ca sarveṣāṃ jagatāmapi | brahmaviṣṇuśivānāṃ ca brahmaṇā prerito hyaham

Translation

„(In dem Gedanken) ‚es ist nur um des eigenen Vorteils willen‘—so ist es in allen Welten. Selbst hinsichtlich Brahmā, Viṣṇu und Śiva werde auch ich wahrlich von Brahmā zum Handeln angetrieben.“

Word by Word

• केवलम्: only/merely
• केवलम्: क्रिया-विशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययभावे नपुंसक एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial: 'only/merely')

• स्वार्थम्: one's own interest
• स्वार्थम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular; तत्पुरुष—'स्वस्य अर्थः' (one's own purpose)

• इति: thus/“as”
• इति: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक (quotative particle)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; genitive plural; qualifies 'जगताम्'

• जगताम्: of worlds/of beings
• जगताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; genitive plural

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-बल (Additive emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ/समुच्चय (particle: also/even)

• ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवानाम्: of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva
• ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + विष्णु + शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; genitive plural; द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार/इतरेतर)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; instrumental singular

• प्रेरितः: impelled/urged
• प्रेरितः: क्रिया-भाव (Predicative verbal)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-ईर्/प्रेर् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; passive participle

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-बल (Emphasis/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular

Speaker

Brahmā

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights how beings often act from svārtha (self-interest), while cosmic actions too unfold through appointed divine roles—pointing the seeker toward surrendering egoic motive and aligning with Shiva’s higher order (pati’s grace).

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

By contrasting self-driven action with divinely guided action, it encourages Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-upāsanā) as a way to purify intention—turning svārtha into sevā and devotion under Shiva’s governance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer actions with mantra-bhāva—especially japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and Tripuṇḍra-bhasma dhāraṇa—to reduce self-centered motive and dedicate karma to Shiva.