Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

मत्त्वा वचो गरिष्ठं वा नियोक्तिपरिपूर्त्तये । करिष्यामि विवाहं वै भक्तवश्यस्सदा ह्यहम्

Transliteration

mattvā vaco gariṣṭhaṃ vā niyoktiparipūrttaye | kariṣyāmi vivāhaṃ vai bhaktavaśyassadā hyaham

Translation

Da ich das gegebene Wort für wahrhaft gewichtig halte und um die göttliche Weisung zu erfüllen, werde ich gewiss die Vermählung vollziehen; denn stets bin ich durch Bhakti zu meinem Verehrer gebunden.

Word by Word

• mattvā: having considered
• mattvā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive) — 'having thought/considered'

• vacaḥ: speech/word
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• gariṣṭham: most weighty/important
• gariṣṭham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: garīyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अतिशय-तुलनात्मक (superlative) विशेषण

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• niyokti-paripūrttaye: for fulfilling the command
• niyokti-paripūrttaye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyokti + paripūrtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (नियोक्तेः परिपूर्तिः)

• kariṣyāmi: I will do
• kariṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार, उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• vivāham: marriage
• vivāham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vivāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• bhakta-vaśyaḥ: submissive to devotees
• bhakta-vaśyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakta + vaśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (भक्तानां वश्यः)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• hi: for/indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s bhakta-vaśyatā—though supreme (Pati), He freely responds to sincere devotion and upholds dharma by fulfilling a rightful injunction, showing grace as Saguna Shiva to guide souls toward liberation.

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

The verse emphasizes Shiva’s approachable, grace-giving aspect: devotees worship the Linga as Saguna support for meditation and surrender, trusting that Shiva answers devotion while remaining the transcendent Nirguna reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice steady bhakti with daily japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and Linga-pūjā; the takeaway is heartfelt surrender and keeping one’s vows as part of Shiva-pleasing conduct.