Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31

मुनिप्रश्नवर्णनम्

Description of the Sages’ Questions

Devanagari script

विधिनारदसंवादपूर्वकं शांकरं यशः । ब्रूहि नस्तात तत्प्रीत्या तत्तत्प्रश्नानुसारतः

Transliteration

vidhināradasaṃvādapūrvakaṃ śāṃkaraṃ yaśaḥ | brūhi nastāta tatprītyā tattatpraśnānusārataḥ

Translation

O Lieber, berichte uns aus Zuneigung die Herrlichkeit Śaṅkaras, wie sie im Zwiegespräch zwischen Brahmā, dem Ordner, und Nārada dargelegt wurde, und antworte Punkt für Punkt gemäß unseren Fragen.

Word by Word

• विधि-नारद-संवाद-पूर्वकम्: preceded by the dialogue of Vidhi (Brahmā) and Nārada
• विधि-नारद-संवाद-पूर्वकम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + नारद (प्रातिपदिक) + संवाद (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• शांकरम्: pertaining to Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शांकरम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शांकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• यशः: glory, fame
• यशः: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• ब्रूहि: tell, speak
• ब्रूहि: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• नः: of us / to us
• नः: सम्प्रदान/अधिकार (recipient/concerned)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case, genitive) बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• तात: O dear one / O father
• तात: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन

• तत्-प्रीत्या: out of/for that pleasure (to please him/that)
• तत्-प्रीत्या: करण/हेतु (Karaṇa/Hetu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case, instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ/निमित्ते (as cause/for the sake of)

• तत्-तत्-प्रश्न-अनुसारतः: according to each and every question
• तत्-तत्-प्रश्न-अनुसारतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रश्न (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुसार (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb); तसिल्-प्रत्ययार्थे (in the sense of 'according to/from')

Speaker

The sages at Naimiṣāraṇya (addressing Sūta Gosvāmin)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Narada

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śravaṇa (devotional listening) of Śiva’s glory as a direct means to awaken bhakti and right understanding, requesting an orderly teaching that follows authentic lineage (Brahmā–Nārada) and answers sincere questions—an approach valued in Śaiva Siddhānta.

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

By asking for Śaṅkara’s yaśas (glory) in a narrated form, the sages seek saguna-oriented instruction—stories and praises that stabilize devotion and prepare the mind for proper worship, including reverence to the Liṅga as Śiva’s accessible, grace-giving form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is regular śravaṇa and manana—listening to and reflecting on Śiva-kathā with devotion; as a practical takeaway, one may pair such listening with japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") to internalize the teaching.