Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

नारदप्रश्नवर्णन (Nāradapraśna-varṇana) — “Account of Nārada’s Inquiry”

Devanagari script

निर्गुणोऽपि शिवस्तात सगुणश्शंकरः कथम् । शिवतत्त्वं न जानामि मोहितश्शिवमायया

Transliteration

nirguṇo'pi śivastāta saguṇaśśaṃkaraḥ katham | śivatattvaṃ na jānāmi mohitaśśivamāyayā

Translation

O dear one, though Śiva is beyond all qualities (nirguṇa), how is Śaṅkara also possessed of attributes (saguṇa)? I do not understand the true tattva of Śiva, for I am bewildered by Śiva’s own māyā.

Word by Word

• nirguṇaḥ: without qualities
• nirguṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir (उपसर्ग/निषेध) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: even/though
• api: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात)

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tāta: O dear one/father
• tāta: Sambodhana (संबोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th: संबोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• saguṇaḥ: with qualities
• saguṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaṃkaraḥ: Śaṅkara
• śaṃkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• katham: how?
• katham: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय)

• śiva-tattvam: Śiva-principle
• śiva-tattvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: शिवस्य तत्त्वम्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• jānāmi: I know
• jānāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• mohitaḥ: deluded
• mohitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muh (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śiva-māyayā: by Śiva’s māyā
• śiva-māyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: शिवस्य माया), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd: तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Brahma (speaking in the creation context of the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara

FAQs

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

It highlights that the Supreme Śiva transcends all qualities (nirguṇa) yet compassionately appears with attributes (saguṇa) for the soul’s upliftment; the soul’s confusion arises from māyā, which is overcome by right understanding and devotion to Śiva.

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

The Liṅga and other forms are saguṇa supports for worship and contemplation; through such reverent upāsanā, the devotee’s mind becomes purified and capable of realizing the nirguṇa truth of Śiva beyond name and form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt saguṇa upāsanā—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” Liṅga-abhiṣeka, and wearing/using rudrākṣa and bhasma with devotion—so māyā’s delusion is reduced and Śiva-tattva becomes clear.