Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 47

कार्त्तिकेयान्वेषण-नन्दिसंवाद-वर्णनम्

Search for Kārttikeya and the Nandī Dialogue

Devanagari script

तदा शिवा सभायां वै शंकरं सर्व शंकरम् । सम्बोध्य कथयामास तवान्वेषणहेतुकम्

Transliteration

tadā śivā sabhāyāṃ vai śaṃkaraṃ sarva śaṃkaram | sambodhya kathayāmāsa tavānveṣaṇahetukam

Translation

Then, in that assembly, Śivā addressed Śaṅkara, the benefactor of all, and told him the very reason for which you were being sought.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (Temporal adverb)

• शिवा: Śivā (Pārvatī)
• शिवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सभायाम्: in the assembly
• सभायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/पादपूरण-अव्यय (Emphatic particle)

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• सर्वशंकरम्: the all-auspicious one
• सर्वशंकरम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वः शंकरः = all-auspicious/wholly beneficent)

• सम्बोध्य: having addressed
• सम्बोध्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + बुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having addressed’

• कथयामास: told/said
• कथयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु; णिच्)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अन्वेषणहेतुकम्: the reason for (your) search
• अन्वेषणहेतुकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वेषण + हेतुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अन्वेषणस्य हेतुकम् = the cause/reason for searching)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the dialogue involving Śivā and Śaṅkara)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights divine guidance: Śivā brings a seeker’s purpose before Śiva, showing that the Lord’s auspicious grace (anugraha) operates through clear revelation and compassionate instruction.

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

By naming Śiva as “sarva-śaṅkara,” the verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva as the accessible, benevolent Lord who responds within the world—mirroring how devotees approach the Liṅga for guidance, protection, and auspiciousness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is prayerful inquiry: approach Śiva with sincerity, recite the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and seek clarity of purpose—trusting that right understanding arises through the Lord’s grace.