Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10

सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering

Devanagari script

इत्येतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भगवान्भक्तवत्सलः । सामरस्य मम प्रीत्या कृपया वाक्यमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

ityetadvacanaṃ śrutvā bhagavānbhaktavatsalaḥ | sāmarasya mama prītyā kṛpayā vākyamabravīt

Translation

Hearing these words, the Blessed Lord—ever affectionate to His devotees—out of love for Sāmarasa and out of compassion for me, spoke in reply.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/quotative), वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म/Direct object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (vacanaṃ इति)

• vacanam: speech; statement
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having heard)

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• bhakta-vatsalaḥ: affectionate to devotees
• bhakta-vatsalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भक्तानां वत्सलः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (bhagavān इति)

• sāmarasya: of harmony; of concord
• sāmarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāmarasya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; संबोधनार्थ/सम्बन्ध (mama इति सह)

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• prītyā: with affection; out of love
• prītyā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; हेतौ/साधन (instrumental of motive/means)

• kṛpayā: by compassion
• kṛpayā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; साधन/भाव (instrumental: by compassion)

• vākyam: words; a statement
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• abravīt: said; spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Samarasa

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s nature as bhakta-vatsala—His grace (anugraha) is stirred by sincere devotion, and He responds compassionately, guiding the seeker toward auspicious understanding and liberation.

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

The verse presents Saguna Śiva—personal, responsive, and compassionate—showing that heartfelt prayer and surrender in Linga-worship is met by divine attention and instruction.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Approach Śiva with bhakti and humility—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple Linga-pūjā—seeking His grace rather than merely external results.