Shloka 21

देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras

Devanagari script

मद्रूपं परमं ब्रह्मन्नीदृशं भवदंगतः । प्रकटी भविता लोके नाम्ना रुद्रः प्रकीर्तितः

Transliteration

madrūpaṃ paramaṃ brahmannīdṛśaṃ bhavadaṃgataḥ | prakaṭī bhavitā loke nāmnā rudraḥ prakīrtitaḥ

Translation

O Brahmā, My own form is the Supreme Brahman. From your body, a being of this very nature will manifest in the world and will be celebrated by the name “Rudra.”

Word by Word

• मत्-रूपम्: my form
• मत्-रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी-आदेश/प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी): मम रूपम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of मद्रूपम्)

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (O Lord)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• ईदृशम्: such, of this kind
• ईदृशम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of मद्रूपम्)

• भवत्-अङ्गतः: from your body
• भवत्-अङ्गतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: भवतः अङ्गम्; ‘-तः’ पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्यय (from); “from your body/limb”

• प्रकटी: manifestly
• प्रकटी: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रकटी (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययभाव)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्यय (adverb): “manifestly/openly” (also read as feminine nominative of प्रकटी, but here adverbial)

• भविता: will be / will become
• भविता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• नाम्ना: by the name
• नाम्ना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रकीर्तितः: is called / is renowned
• प्रकीर्तितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √कीर्त्/√कृत्? (धातु) → प्रकीर्तित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकालिक कर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, Kta); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (called/celebrated)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Rudra

FAQs

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

The verse identifies Shiva’s reality as the Supreme Brahman (transcendent Pati) while also affirming His power to manifest a divine form (Rudra) within the world for cosmic function and grace—bridging Nirguna truth and Saguna accessibility.

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

By declaring the Supreme Brahman as capable of worldly manifestation, the text legitimizes worship of Shiva in manifest forms—such as Rudra and the Śiva-liṅga—through which devotees approach the transcendent reality with devotion and disciplined practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva as both transcendent Brahman and compassionate manifest Lord, supporting japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady contemplation of Rudra as the accessible form of the Supreme.