Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

मुनिप्रश्नवर्णनम्

Description of the Sages’ Questions

Devanagari script

तस्याविर्भावमाख्याहि चरितानि विशेषतः । उमाविर्भावमाख्याहि तद्विवाहं तथा प्रभो

Transliteration

tasyāvirbhāvamākhyāhi caritāni viśeṣataḥ | umāvirbhāvamākhyāhi tadvivāhaṃ tathā prabho

Translation

„O Herr, berichte ausführlich von Seiner göttlichen Erscheinung und von Seinen heiligen Taten. Schilder auch das Erscheinen Umās und ebenso den Bericht über ihre Vermählung, o Prabhu.“

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आविर्भावम्: manifestation / appearance
• आविर्भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आविर्भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आख्याहि: tell / narrate
• आख्याहि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आख्या (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• चरितानि: deeds / exploits
• चरितानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; ‘deeds/episodes’

• विशेषतः: in detail / especially
• विशेषतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• उमा-आविर्भावम्: Umā’s manifestation
• उमा-आविर्भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा (प्रातिपदिक) + आविर्भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (उमायाः आविर्भावः)

• आख्याहि: tell
• आख्याहि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आख्या (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तत्-विवाहम्: that marriage
• तत्-विवाहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + विवाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तस्य विवाहः)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकार (also/likewise)

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

The sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (addressing Sūta Gosvāmi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Uma (Parvati)

FAQs

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

The verse models the devotee’s approach in Śaiva Siddhānta: requesting the Lord’s āvirbhāva (gracious self-revelation) and carita (divine deeds) as a means to awaken bhakti and right understanding of Pati (Śiva) and His Śakti (Umā).

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

By asking for the Lord’s manifested appearance and līlā, the verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Śiva approachable through form, narrative, and grace—supporting devotional worship such as Liṅga-pūjā where the transcendent Nirguṇa is honored through a sacred, worshipable symbol.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śravaṇa (devotional listening) of Śiva-kathā as a sādhanā; it is naturally paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and simple Liṅga worship with reverence to Śiva-Śakti.