Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

नारदप्रश्नवर्णन (Nāradapraśna-varṇana) — “Account of Nārada’s Inquiry”

Devanagari script

सर्वब्रह्मांडराजानौ शिवभक्तौ जितेन्द्रियौ । शिवापरतनोर्मृत्युं प्राप्य स्वं पदमाप्स्यथः

Transliteration

sarvabrahmāṃḍarājānau śivabhaktau jitendriyau | śivāparatanormṛtyuṃ prāpya svaṃ padamāpsyathaḥ

Translation

Ihr beide werdet zu souveränen Herrschern über alle Universen werden—Shiva ergeben und die Sinne bezwingend. Und wenn der Tod naht, ganz von Shiva abhängig, werdet ihr euren höchsten Zustand, eure letzte Wohnstatt, erlangen.

Word by Word

• sarva-brahmāṇḍa-rājānau: the two kings of all universes
• sarva-brahmāṇḍa-rājānau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (सर्व) + brahmāṇḍa (ब्रह्माण्ड) + rājan (राजन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• śiva-bhaktau: devotees of Śiva (two)
• śiva-bhaktau: Karta (कर्ता; appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (शिव) + bhakta (भक्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); apposition to rājānau

• jita-indriyau: having conquered the senses
• jita-indriyau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita (जित; √ji धातु, क्त) + indriya (इन्द्रिय)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); past participle used adjectivally

• śiva-aparatanor: of the two (forms) other than Śiva
• śiva-aparatanor: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (शिव) + apara (अपर) + tanu (तनु प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); ‘of the two bodies/forms other than Śiva’

• mṛtyum: death
• mṛtyum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyu (मृत्यु प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• prāpya: having reached/attained
• prāpya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त/क्त्वार्थ) from prā√āp; ‘having attained/reached’

• svam: one’s own
• svam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (स्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); possessive adjective

• padam: state/abode
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (पद प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āpsyathaḥ: you two will obtain
• āpsyathaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: Simple Future (लृट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Brahmā (as narrator/instructor within the Sṛṣṭi Khaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse promises universal sovereignty and, more importantly, liberation attained through exclusive dependence (paratantratā) on Śiva—an anugraha-centered teaching rather than a site-specific legend.

Significance: Frames bhakti + indriya-jaya + śaraṇāgati to Śiva as the direct cause for attaining one’s ‘svaṃ padam’ (liberative station).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that sovereignty and success are secondary fruits, while the highest fruit is liberation: by becoming śivaparatanā—wholly surrendered to Śiva—and mastering the senses, one attains the supreme state through Śiva’s grace.

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

The verse emphasizes devotion to Śiva as the decisive cause of final attainment. In Shiva Purana practice, such bhakti is commonly expressed through Saguna worship—especially Śiva-liṅga pūjā—leading the devotee toward Śiva’s highest abode.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is jitendriyatā (sense-restraint) joined with Śiva-bhakti: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), liṅga-arcana with bhasma/tripuṇḍra, and a disciplined life that reduces craving and strengthens surrender to Śiva.