Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

तान्दृष्ट्वा च तदा विष्णुर्ब्रह्माद्यानमरान्स्थितान् । स्मरञ्छिवपदांभोजमब्रवीत्परमं वचः

Transliteration

tāndṛṣṭvā ca tadā viṣṇurbrahmādyānamarānsthitān | smarañchivapadāṃbhojamabravītparamaṃ vacaḥ

Translation

Da erblickte Viṣṇu Brahmā und die übrigen versammelten Unsterblichen; eingedenk der lotosgleichen Füße Śivas sprach er diese höchsten Worte.

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having seen’

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

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• ब्रह्म-आद्यान्: Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्म-आद्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ = ‘beginning with’ (आदि-तत्पुरुष)

• अमरान्: the immortals (gods)
• अमरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्थितान्: standing/assembled
• स्थितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• स्मरन्: remembering
• स्मरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि

• शिव-पद-अम्भोजम्: the lotus of Śiva’s feet
• शिव-पद-अम्भोजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + पद + अम्भोज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘शिवस्य पदस्य अम्भोजम्’

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies ‘वचः’)

• वचः: words/speech
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Vishnu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śiva-padāmbhoja-smaraṇa (implicit; not quoted as a fixed mantra)

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Inter-deity council: Viṣṇu prepares to speak after invoking Śiva’s feet—signaling Śiva’s overarching sovereignty in the cosmic administration.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) whose lotus-feet are the highest refuge; even Viṣṇu turns inward in remembrance before speaking, showing that true authority arises from devotion and surrender to Śiva.

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

Remembering Śiva’s lotus-feet is a classic Saguna focus for bhakti and dhyāna; in Linga worship the devotee similarly approaches Śiva through a sacred form, cultivating reverence, purity, and surrender to the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Pada-dhyāna (meditation on Śiva’s lotus-feet) along with japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a devotional preparation before prayer, counsel, or ritual.