Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4

रुद्र-विष्णोः ऐकत्व-उपदेशः तथा धर्म-आज्ञा

Instruction on Rudra–Viṣṇu Unity and Divine Injunctions

Devanagari script

विविधानवतारांश्च गृहीत्वा कीर्तिमुत्तमाम् । विस्तारय हरे लोके तारणाय परो भव

Transliteration

vividhānavatārāṃśca gṛhītvā kīrtimuttamām | vistāraya hare loke tāraṇāya paro bhava

Translation

Indem du vielfältige Inkarnationen annimmst und die höchste Herrlichkeit trägst, o Hari, breite sie in der Welt aus; zur Erlösung der Wesen sei in höchstem Maße ihrem Heil verpflichtet.

Word by Word

• विविधान्: various
• विविधान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Plural; अवतारान् इति विशेषण

• अवतारान्: incarnations
• अवतारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गृहीत्वा: having taken/assumed
• गृहीत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक; having assumed/taken

• कीर्तिम्: fame/glory
• कीर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• उत्तमाम्: excellent
• उत्तमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative, Singular; कीर्तिम् इति विशेषण

• विस्तारय: spread/expand
• विस्तारय: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-स्तृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; Imperative, 2nd person, Singular

• हरे: O Hari
• हरे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तारणाय: for deliverance/saving
• तारणाय: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; Neuter, Dative, Singular; प्रयोजनार्थे

• परः: supreme
• परः: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; (त्वं) इति विशेषण

• भव: become/be
• भव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; Imperative, 2nd person, Singular

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Rudra) instructing Hari (Vishnu) within the creation narrative

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: sṛṣṭi-ārambha (creation narrative; delegation of cosmic functions)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu (Hari)

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as the supreme guide (Pati) directing cosmic order: even Hari is urged to act for the liberation of beings by assuming forms that restore dharma and turn minds toward salvation beyond saṃsāra.

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

The verse highlights Saguna activity—divine forms taken for the world’s good—while implying Shiva’s supreme oversight. In Linga-worship, devotees honor Shiva as the transcendental Lord whose grace empowers all saving actions in the manifest world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is dharma-propagation through devotion: daily remembrance of Shiva’s lordship with japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and sharing Shiva-kīrti (sacred praise) as a means to uplift and steady the mind toward liberation.