Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 51

नारदस्य विष्णूपदेशवर्णनम् — Nārada and Viṣṇu: Instruction after Delusion

Devanagari script

शिवनामतरीं प्राप्य संसाराब्धिं तरंति ते । संसारमूलपापानि तस्य नश्यंत्यसंशयम्

Transliteration

śivanāmatarīṃ prāpya saṃsārābdhiṃ taraṃti te | saṃsāramūlapāpāni tasya naśyaṃtyasaṃśayam

Translation

Wer das Boot des Namens Śivas erlangt, überquert den Ozean des Saṃsāra. Die Wurzelsünden, die Saṃsāra hervorbringen, werden für diesen Verehrer ohne jeden Zweifel vernichtet.

Word by Word

• शिवनामतरीम्: the boat of Śiva’s name
• शिवनामतरीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-नाम-तरी (प्रातिपदिक; समास: शिव + नाम + तरी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('Śiva-name' as genitive qualifier)

• प्राप्य: having obtained; after attaining
• प्राप्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Anterior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त-अव्यय (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त), अर्थे 'having obtained/after reaching'

• संसाराब्धिम्: the ocean of saṃsāra
• संसाराब्धिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार-अब्धि (प्रातिपदिक; समास: संसार + अब्धि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• तरन्ति: they cross
• तरन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• संसारमूलपापानि: sins rooted in saṃsāra
• संसारमूलपापानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार-मूल-पाप (प्रातिपदिक; समास: संसार + मूल + पाप)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; प्रथमा here as subject of नश्यन्ति

• तस्य: of him; for him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• नश्यन्ति: perish; are destroyed
• नश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• असंशयम्: undoubtedly
• असंशयम्: Prakara (प्रकार/Adverbial manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: असंशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative) अर्थे 'without doubt'

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya within the Rudra Saṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Nāma-smaraṇa functions as an inner tīrtha: by taking refuge in Śiva’s Name as the ‘boat’, the bound soul crosses saṃsāra and its karmic causes are attenuated/destroyed through grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares Śiva-nāma as an unfailing means of liberation: the Name functions like a boat that carries the bound soul (paśu) across saṃsāra, destroying the karmic roots that keep one fettered.

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

In Saguna Śaiva practice, the Name is inseparable from the Lord it signifies; chanting Śiva’s Name while worshipping the Liṅga is presented as a direct, grace-filled path that purifies sin and supports liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular japa of Śiva-nāma—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a daily discipline, ideally alongside Liṅga-pūjā with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as supportive Śaiva observances.