Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 62

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

Devanagari script

हृदि संसारिणः साक्षात्सकलः परमेश्वरः । इति विज्ञानयुक्तस्य किं तस्य प्रतिमादिभिः

Transliteration

hṛdi saṃsāriṇaḥ sākṣātsakalaḥ parameśvaraḥ | iti vijñānayuktasya kiṃ tasya pratimādibhiḥ

Translation

Im Herzen der verkörperten Seele, die durch den Saṃsāra wandert, weilt unmittelbar der höchste Herr—Śiva in seinem manifesten (sakala) Aspekt. Für den, der darüber wahre unterscheidende Erkenntnis besitzt, wozu bedarf es noch von Bildern und anderen äußeren Stützen der Verehrung?

Word by Word

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संसारिणः: of the worldly person
• संसारिणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• साक्षात्: directly/manifestly
• साक्षात्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb: directly, manifestly)

• सकलः: entire/complete
• सकलः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; (परमेश्वरः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• परम-ईश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परम-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: परमः ईश्वरः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-सूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• विज्ञान-युक्तस्य: of one endowed with knowledge
• विज्ञान-युक्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्ञान + युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative): विज्ञानेन युक्तः; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• किम्: what (use/need)?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक (interrogative)

• तस्य: for him/of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रतिमा-आदिभिः: with images and the like
• प्रतिमा-आदिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमा + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (समाहार/आदि-समास): प्रतिमा-आदि (images etc.); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Shiva’s teaching within the Rudrasaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Parameśvara Śiva is immediately present in the heart; when this is realized through vijñāna (direct discernment), inner contemplation becomes primary and external props become secondary.

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

It does not reject Saguna worship; it indicates a progression: external supports like liṅga/pratimā help beginners focus, but for the realized knower who perceives Śiva within, worship culminates in inward, direct awareness of the sakala Lord present in the heart.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A heart-centered dhyāna: contemplate Śiva as the indwelling Lord (antar-yāmin) while maintaining devotion; external worship may continue as an aid, but the key practice is inward recognition and steady meditation.