Shloka 36

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

संहर्तारं तथा रुद्रं स्वप्रकाशमुपास्महे । ज्ञानकर्मेंद्रि याणां च मनोवृत्तीर्धियस्तथा

Transliteration

saṃhartāraṃ tathā rudraṃ svaprakāśamupāsmahe | jñānakarmeṃdri yāṇāṃ ca manovṛttīrdhiyastathā

Translation

Wir verehren Rudra, den Auflöser von allem, der aus sich selbst leuchtet. Aus Ihm gehen hervor und durch Ihn werden gelenkt die Organe der Erkenntnis und des Handelns, ebenso die Regungen des Geistes und die Funktionen des Intellekts.

Word by Word

• संहर्तारम्: the destroyer
• संहर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + हृ (धातु) → संहर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्वप्रकाशम्: self-luminous
• स्वप्रकाशम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier of ‘rudram’)

• उपास्महे: we worship
• उपास्महे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ज्ञानकर्मेन्द्रियाणाम्: of the sense-organs of knowledge and action
• ज्ञानकर्मेन्द्रियाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष (jñāna- and karma-indriyas; compound functioning as a class-name)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• वृत्तीः: modifications/activities
• वृत्तीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• धियः: intellects/thoughts
• धियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching within the Vidyeśvara/Viśveśvara context to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya implied (universal dissolution)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It identifies Rudra as the self-luminous Pati (Lord) who transcends yet governs mind, intellect, and the sense-faculties; realizing Him as the inner light is a direct Shaiva path toward liberation.

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee to recognize the formless, self-revealing consciousness (svaprakāśa) indicated by the Linga—Shiva as both accessible (saguna for worship) and ultimately beyond the mind and senses (nirguna in essence).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Rudra as the inner light while restraining the indriyas and calming mental vṛttis; support this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and, where customary, Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness.