Shloka 16

Śiva–Hari–Rudra–Vidhīnāṃ Tattva-nirṇayaḥ

Identity of Śiva, Viṣṇu, Rudra, and Brahmā; Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Reconciliation

Devanagari script

अन्यं भजन्ति ये नित्यं तस्मिंस्ते लीनतां गताः । तेनैव रुद्रं ते प्राप्ताः कालेन महता बुधाः

Transliteration

anyaṃ bhajanti ye nityaṃ tasmiṃste līnatāṃ gatāḥ | tenaiva rudraṃ te prāptāḥ kālena mahatā budhāḥ

Translation

Those who continually worship another become absorbed into that very one. Yet, through that same devotion, in the course of a long time, the wise ultimately attain Rudra (Śiva) Himself.

Word by Word

• अन्यम्: another (deity/one)
• अन्यम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• भजन्ति: worship
• भजन्ति: विधेय (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd/प्रथम), बहुवचन — 3rd pl present; परस्मैपदम्

• ये: who
• ये: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — Relative pronoun, nominative plural

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: कालाधिकरण (Adverb of time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषणवत् — used adverbially: ‘always’

• तस्मिन्: in that (one)
• तस्मिन्: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative singular

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — Pronoun, nominative plural

• लीनताम्: absorption, dissolution
• लीनताम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object; goal-state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीनता (प्रातिपदिक; लीन + ता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• गताः: have attained
• गताः: विधेय (Predicate; state of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्तः भूतकृत् (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Past passive participle used predicatively (‘having gone/attained’)

• तेन: by that
• तेन: करण (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन — Instrumental singular

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — अवधारण (emphasis)

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — Pronoun, nominative plural

• प्राप्ताः: have reached/obtained
• प्राप्ताः: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्तः क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Past passive participle used predicatively (‘having obtained/reached’)

• कालेन: by time
• कालेन: करण/कालसाधन (Instrument; by time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन — Instrumental singular

• महता: great, long
• महता: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन — Instrumental singular; विशेषणम् कालस्य

• बुधाः: the wise
• बुधाः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to ‘ते’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — Nominative plural

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere devotion (bhakti) naturally brings the devotee into absorption with the chosen form, yet—because Rudra is the inner Self and ultimate Lord (Pati)—that devotion can mature over time into realization of Shiva Himself.

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

The verse supports the Shiva Purana’s Shaiva Siddhanta-style hierarchy: worship of saguna forms refines the mind and devotion; when directed toward the Linga (the universal mark of Shiva), it culminates more directly in Rudra-realization, which is the final ground behind all worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Steady daily bhajana is implied—practically expressed in Shaiva practice through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-pūjā with bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa, and sustained remembrance over a long period.