Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 59

सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering

Devanagari script

प्रत्ययार्थं च जगतामेकस्थोऽपि दिवाकरः । एकोऽपि बहुधा दृष्टो जलाधारादिवस्तुषु

Transliteration

pratyayārthaṃ ca jagatāmekastho'pi divākaraḥ | eko'pi bahudhā dṛṣṭo jalādhārādivastuṣu

Translation

Um den Welten Gewissheit zu geben, erscheint die Sonne, obgleich sie an einem Ort verweilt, als viele. Ebenso wird das Eine in wassergefüllten Gefäßen und ähnlichen Trägern in mannigfacher Weise gesehen.

Word by Word

• pratyaya-artham: for the sake of conviction/verification
• pratyaya-artham: Prayojana/Hetu (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratyaya (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रत्ययस्य अर्थः)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• jagatām: of the worlds/beings
• jagatām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• eka-sthaḥ: situated in one place
• eka-sthaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (एकः स्थः = one-situated)

• api: even/though
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = even/although (particle)

• divākaraḥ: the sun
• divākaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divākara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• ekaḥ: one
• ekaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = even (particle)

• bahudhā: in many ways/manyfold
• bahudhā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahudhā (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• dṛṣṭaḥ: is seen/appears
• dṛṣṭaḥ: Karmaṇi-bhāva (कर्मणि/प्रत्ययार्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु) → dṛṣṭa (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (दृश्—क्त)

• jala-ādhāra-ādi-vastuṣu: in objects such as water-containers (etc.)
• jala-ādhāra-ādi-vastuṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + ādhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + vastu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; समासः: (जलाधारः) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः + (जलाधार-आदि) तत्पुरुषः + (…वस्तु) तत्पुरुषः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga account; an epistemic analogy: one sun appears many in reflected media, illustrating how the One Lord is perceived as many due to upādhis (limiting adjuncts).

Significance: Supports contemplative practice: seeing multiplicity as reflection/appearance helps loosen bondage to nāma-rūpa and prepares for Śiva-jñāna.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Surya

FAQs

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

It teaches that multiplicity can arise from a single source through reflected appearances—helping the seeker gain firm conviction (pratyaya) that the One Lord can be experienced in many forms without losing His oneness.

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

Just as one sun is seen as many in different vessels of water, the one Shiva is approached through many sacred supports (like the Śiva-liṅga and diverse forms). Saguna worship becomes a valid doorway to realize the one, transcendent Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is ekāgratā (one-pointed contemplation): while chanting the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), meditate that the same Shiva shines through all perceived forms—like one sun reflected in many waters.