Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

शास्म्यहं त्वां विशेषेण मम प्रियतमो भवान् । विष्णुभक्तो यतस्त्वं हि तद्भक्तोतीव मेऽनुगः

Transliteration

śāsmyahaṃ tvāṃ viśeṣeṇa mama priyatamo bhavān | viṣṇubhakto yatastvaṃ hi tadbhaktotīva me'nugaḥ

Translation

„Ich weise dich mit besonderer Sorgfalt an, denn du bist mir überaus lieb. Weil du ein Bhakta Viṣṇus bist, bist du Ihm wahrhaft hingegeben; und darum bist du auch mir in höchstem Maße ergeben.“

Word by Word

• शास्मि: I instruct / command
• शास्मि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śās (शास् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣa (विशेष प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (adverbial instrumental)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रियतमः: most dear
• प्रियतमः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priyatama (प्रियतम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अतिशय (superlative sense)

• भवान्: you (hon.)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (भवत् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; आदरार्थक सर्वनाम (honorific pronoun)

• विष्णु-भक्तः: a devotee of Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-भक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (भक्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘विष्णोः भक्तः’

• यतः: because
• यतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक (causal conjunction ‘because’)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक-निपात

• तत्-भक्तः: his devotee
• तत्-भक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (भक्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘तस्य भक्तः’ (devotee of him/that one)

• उत्-इव: as it were, very much
• उत्-इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ut + iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘उत्’ (emphatic particle) + ‘इव’ (comparative particle)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अनुगः: follower / attendant
• अनुगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anuga (अनुग प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Śiva (Rudra)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that true bhakti is recognized by Śiva regardless of sectarian labels: honoring Viṣṇu with sincerity aligns with Śiva’s own will, because the Supreme Lord’s grace operates through genuine devotion and humility.

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

By affirming Hari–Hara harmony, the verse supports Saguna Śiva worship (including Liṅga-pūjā) as a path grounded in devotion rather than rivalry; reverence to Viṣṇu does not contradict devotion to Śiva, and Liṅga worship can be practiced with this inclusive understanding.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steadfast bhakti with respectful speech and daily remembrance: one may chant the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while maintaining reverence for Viṣṇu, cultivating non-sectarian devotion that invites Śiva’s anugraha (grace).