Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

विष्णुचेष्टितवर्णनम् / Account of Viṣṇu’s Stratagem and Its Aftermath

Devanagari script

सुखमापुर्न वा तातास्सत्यं ब्रूतामराः खलु । भवत्कृते हि मे लीला निर्विकारस्य सर्वदा

Transliteration

sukhamāpurna vā tātāssatyaṃ brūtāmarāḥ khalu | bhavatkṛte hi me līlā nirvikārasya sarvadā

Translation

«O ihr Lieben, sagt Mir die Wahrheit: Habt ihr wahrhaft Glück erlangt oder nicht? Denn um euretwillen ist dies stets Meine göttliche Līlā; doch in Meinem wahren Wesen bleibe Ich ewig unveränderlich».

Word by Word

• sukham: happiness
• sukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); object of āpuḥ

• āpuḥ: attained
• āpuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), negation particle (निषेध)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

• tātāḥ: dear ones / sons
• tātāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); vocative-like address used as nominative in speech

• satyam: the truth
• satyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); object of brūta

• brūta: tell / speak
• brūta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्, Imperative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• amarāḥ: O immortals (gods)
• amarāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); addressees

• khalu: indeed
• khalu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: khalu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात) for emphasis/assurance

• bhavat-kṛte: for your sake
• bhavat-kṛte: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) (genitive relation): bhavataḥ kṛte; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन); purpose/for-your-sake sense

• hi: for / indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात) indicating reason/emphasis

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• līlā: play / divine sport
• līlā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• nirvikārasya: of the changeless (one)
• nirvikārasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirvikāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying me (implicit: mama) or līlā (as belonging to the changeless one)

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Rudra)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva, the supreme Pati, is intrinsically nirvikāra (unchanging), yet manifests action as līlā for the welfare and instruction of beings—so devotees learn to see worldly events as purposeful divine governance rather than limitation in God.

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

Though Shiva is ultimately changeless (nirguna in essence), devotees approach Him through saguna forms—such as the Linga—where His compassionate līlā becomes accessible, allowing bhakti and grace to operate within time and ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with the contemplation: “Shiva is nirvikāra, yet out of grace He acts for my upliftment,” supporting steadiness in devotion during conflict or change.