Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras

Devanagari script

त्वां विना न समर्थौ हि आवां च स्वस्वकर्मणि । लोककार्यरतो तस्मादेकां गृह्णीष्व कामिनीम्

Transliteration

tvāṃ vinā na samarthau hi āvāṃ ca svasvakarmaṇi | lokakāryarato tasmādekāṃ gṛhṇīṣva kāminīm

Translation

Ohne Dich sind wir beide wahrlich nicht fähig, unsere jeweiligen Aufgaben zu erfüllen. Darum, dem Wohl der Welten zugewandt, nimm eine geliebte Jungfrau als Deine Gemahlin an.

Word by Word

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विना: without
• विना: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: उपपद-विभक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (preposition-like: without)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधक अव्यय (negation particle)

• समर्थौ: capable
• समर्थौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषणं ‘आवाम्’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• आवाम्: we two
• आवाम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्वस्वकर्मणि: in each one’s own duty
• स्वस्वकर्मणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + स्व + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘स्वं स्वं कर्म’ = each one’s own duty)

• लोककार्यरतः: engaged in the world’s work
• लोककार्यरतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक + कार्य + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘लोककार्ये रतः’)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (ablative: therefore/from that)

• एकाम्: one
• एकाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘कामिनीम्’

• गृह्णीष्व: accept/take
• गृह्णीष्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; √ग्रह् → गृह्णी- (present stem)

• कामिनीम्: beloved woman/bride
• कामिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Brahmā (addressing Lord Śiva in the Satīkhaṇḍa narrative context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse frames divine marriage as loka-kārya—service to cosmic welfare—showing that even exalted beings undertake relational and social duties when it supports dharma and the world’s balance, while remaining inwardly established in Śiva’s transcendence.

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

It highlights Saguna Śiva’s compassionate participation in the manifest order: though worshipped as the formless Linga beyond attributes, Śiva also assumes relational roles (like accepting a consort) to guide creation and uphold dharma, making his grace accessible to devotees.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is seva-bhāva (service-oriented devotion): perform one’s svadharma as an offering to Śiva, supported by steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” aligning personal duty with loka-kārya.