Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34

नारदस्य विष्णूपदेशवर्णनम् — Nārada and Viṣṇu: Instruction after Delusion

Devanagari script

तत्सेवया विधिस्स्रष्टा पालको जगतामहम् । स्वयं सर्वस्य संहारी रुद्ररूपेण सर्वदा

Transliteration

tatsevayā vidhissraṣṭā pālako jagatāmaham | svayaṃ sarvasya saṃhārī rudrarūpeṇa sarvadā

Translation

Durch seinen Dienst wird Vidhi (Brahmā) zum Schöpfer; ich werde zum Bewahrer der Welten; und Er selbst ist, stets in der Gestalt Rudras, der Zerstörer von allem.

Word by Word

• तत्-सेवया: by/through that service
• तत्-सेवया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः): तत्-सेवा = 'तस्य सेवा'

• विधिः: Brahmā (the ordainer)
• विधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्रष्टा: creator
• स्रष्टा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृज् (धातु) → स्रष्टृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम (agent noun)

• पालकः: protector
• पालकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाल (धातु) → पालक (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्वयम्: by oneself
• स्वयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/स्वतन्त्रता-बोधक (adverb: 'oneself/independently')

• सर्वस्य: of all
• सर्वस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• संहारी: destroyer
• संहारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सं-हृ (धातु) → संहारी (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक (destroyer)

• रुद्र-रूपेण: in the form of Rudra
• रुद्र-रूपेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः): रुद्रस्य रूपम्

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Vishnu (Hari), describing the supreme Lord’s triadic functions through Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Rudra

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Allocation of cosmic offices (creation-preservation-dissolution) within a kalpa-cycle.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It establishes Śiva as the supreme Pati: Brahmā creates and Viṣṇu sustains only by His grace/service, while Śiva as Rudra performs dissolution—showing all cosmic powers depend on the Lord.

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

It supports Saguna worship by affirming Śiva’s active lordship in the universe—worship of the Liṅga is worship of the very source empowering creation, preservation, and dissolution.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is sevā-bhakti to Śiva—daily Liṅga-pūjā with pañcākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and remembrance of Rudra as the ever-present purifier and dissolver of bondage.