Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 67

देव-गण-समरः

Devas and Śiva’s Gaṇas Engage in Battle

Devanagari script

शिवाज्ञया वयं सर्वे सेवकाः शंकरस्य वै । तथापि च रमानाथ प्रवादोचितमादरात्

Transliteration

śivājñayā vayaṃ sarve sevakāḥ śaṃkarasya vai | tathāpi ca ramānātha pravādocitamādarāt

Translation

Auf Śivas Geheiß sind wir alle wahrlich Diener Śaṅkaras. Dennoch, o Herr der Lakṣmī, aus Achtung vor dem, was sich im öffentlichen Wort geziemt, sprechen wir auf diese Weise.

Word by Word

• शिवाज्ञया: by Śiva’s command
• शिवाज्ञया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः): शिवस्य आज्ञा → शिवाज्ञा; तृतीया ‘by/through the command’

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण of वयम्/सेवकाः

• सेवकाः: servants
• सेवकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शंकरस्य: of Śaṅkara
• शंकरस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic particle)

• तथापि: nevertheless
• तथापि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अव्ययीभावार्थे (concessive adverb): ‘even so/however’

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

• रमानाथ: O lord of Ramā
• रमानाथ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रमा + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः): रमायाः नाथः ‘O lord of Ramā (Lakṣmī)’

• प्रवादोचितम्: proper to be said
• प्रवादोचितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवाद + उचित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः: प्रवादे उचितम् ‘proper for speech/report’; used predicatively (elliptic)

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; ablative of cause ‘out of respect’

Speaker

An attendant/deva speaking to Lord Vishnu (Ramānātha) within Sūta’s narration

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Vishnu
• Lakshmi (Rama)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) whose command governs even celestial beings, and it teaches humility: true status is servanthood to Śaṅkara, expressed through disciplined, dharmic speech.

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

Calling themselves “servants of Śaṅkara” aligns with Saguna Śiva-bhakti—approaching Shiva as the personal Lord who commands and protects; Linga-worship similarly trains surrender (śaraṇāgati) and reverence toward Shiva’s manifested presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sevā-bhāva (the attitude of service) with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and maintain vrata-like restraint in speech (satya, hita, mita) as an offering to Shiva.