Shloka 26

Śiva–Hari–Rudra–Vidhīnāṃ Tattva-nirṇayaḥ

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

Devanagari script

तथा च ब्राह्मणा रुद्रं तथा कालीं प्रचक्षते । सर्वं ताभ्यान्ततः प्राप्तमिच्छया सत्यलीलया

Transliteration

tathā ca brāhmaṇā rudraṃ tathā kālīṃ pracakṣate | sarvaṃ tābhyāntataḥ prāptamicchayā satyalīlayā

Translation

Thus the Brāhmaṇas proclaim Rudra, and likewise Kāli. In truth, everything is ultimately attained from those Two—through their sovereign will, in their real and purposeful divine play (līlā).

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/in that manner)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘also/likewise’ अर्थे

• कालीम्: Kālī
• कालीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रचक्षते: declare/call
• प्रचक्षते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present indicative), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• ताभ्याम्: from those two (Rudra and Kālī)
• ताभ्याम्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine) (रुद्र-काली द्वयम् अभिप्रेत्य), तृतीया/पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Instr./Abl. 3rd/5th), द्विवचन (Dual)

• अन्ततः: ultimately
• अन्ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘अन्ते/पर्यवसाने’ (finally, ultimately)

• प्राप्तम्: obtained/derived
• प्राप्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘प्राप्त’ = obtained/attained

• इच्छया: by (their) will
• इच्छया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सत्यलीलया: by the true (divine) play
• सत्यलीलया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य-लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: सत्यैव लीला (true/divine play)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: The verse frames all attainments as arising from Rudra-Śakti; pilgrimage and worship are meaningful as channels of their icchā-śakti (sovereign will) granting siddhi and mokṣa.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: All outcomes attributed to icchā-śakti and satya-līlā of Rudra-Śakti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Rudra)
• Kali (Shakti)

FAQs

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

It affirms that all attainments—worldly and spiritual—ultimately arise from Rudra (Pati) together with Kāli/Śakti, whose divine will governs creation and liberation in a truthful, purposeful līlā.

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

Rudra here is Saguna Shiva, approachable through devotion and ritual; the verse implies that worship of Shiva (often through the Liṅga) is fulfilled when understood with Śakti as inseparable, since all grace and results flow from the divine pair.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to worship Shiva with Śakti-bhāva—Liṅga-pūjā while chanting the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and maintaining devotion that seeks grace (anugraha) rather than mere outcomes.