Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

दक्षयज्ञ-प्रसङ्गे देवतानां आश्वासनं तथा दण्डविधानम् | Consolation of the Devas and the Ordinance of Consequences in the Dakṣa-Yajña Episode

Devanagari script

विद्यातपोव्रतधरानसृजः प्रथमं द्विजा । आत्मतत्त्वं समावेत्तुं मुखतः परमेश्वरः

Transliteration

vidyātapovratadharānasṛjaḥ prathamaṃ dvijā | ātmatattvaṃ samāvettuṃ mukhataḥ parameśvaraḥ

Translation

O ihr Zweifachgeborenen, der höchste Herr Parameśvara erschuf zuerst jene, die mit heiligem Wissen, Askese und Gelübden ausgestattet waren, damit die Wahrheit des Selbst (Ātman) aus Seinem eigenen Mund durch offenbarte Lehre recht erkannt werde.

Word by Word

• vidyā-tapas-vrata-dharān: those who bear learning, austerity, and vows
• vidyā-tapas-vrata-dharān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (विद्या) + tapas (तपस्) + vrata (व्रत) + dhara (धर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative Plural (द्वितीया बहुवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘bearing learning, austerity, and vows’

• asṛjaḥ: created
• asṛjaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (सृज् धातु)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada; ‘created’

• prathamam: first
• prathamam: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prathama (प्रथम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (द्वितीया-अव्ययीभाव) used as adverb ‘first’

• dvijāḥ: O twice-born ones (Brahmins)
• dvijāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (द्विज प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative Plural (सम्बोधन बहुवचन)

• ātma-tattvam: the principle of the Self
• ātma-tattvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (आत्मन्) + tattva (तत्त्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative Singular (द्वितीया एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘of self’ + ‘principle’

• samāvettum: to fully realize
• samāvettum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√vid (सम्+आ+विद् धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुनन्त), indeclinable (अव्ययभाव); ‘to know/realize fully’

• mukhataḥ: from (his) mouth
• mukhataḥ: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mukha (मुख प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तसिल्-प्रत्यय; मुखतः) meaning ‘from the mouth’

• parameśvaraḥ: Parameśvara (Supreme Lord)
• parameśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameśvara (परमेश्वर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative Singular (प्रथमा एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmogonic first-creation of vidyā-tapas-vrata bearers for transmission of ātma-tattva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva (Pati) compassionately establishes qualified seekers—those grounded in vidyā, tapas, and vrata—so that Atma-tattva can be known through authentic revelation and guidance, culminating in liberation by His grace.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna devotion are supported by discipline (vrata), purity (tapas), and right understanding (vidyā); through such qualified practice, the devotee becomes fit to receive Śiva’s teaching and realize the inner Self indicated by the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a Shiva-vrata (especially on Mahāśivarātri), combine it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and study/reflect on Atma-tattva under proper instruction—using tapas as steady inner discipline.