Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1

रुद्ररथ-निर्माणवर्णनम् / Description of Rudra’s Divine Chariot Construction

Devanagari script

व्यास उवाच । सनत्कुमार सर्वज्ञ शैवप्रवर सन्मते । अद्भुतेयं कथा तात श्राविता परिमेशितुः

Transliteration

vyāsa uvāca | sanatkumāra sarvajña śaivapravara sanmate | adbhuteyaṃ kathā tāta śrāvitā parimeśituḥ

Translation

Vyāsa dijo: «Oh Sanatkumāra, omnisciente, el más excelso entre los devotos de Śiva y de noble entendimiento; hijo querido, he escuchado este relato maravilloso tal como fue proclamado acerca de Parameśvara (el Señor Supremo, Śiva).»

Word by Word

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सनत्कुमार: O Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमार: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्-कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन

• सर्वज्ञ: O omniscient one
• सर्वज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शैवप्रवर: O foremost among Śaivas
• शैवप्रवर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैव-प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सन्मते: O noble-minded one
• सन्मते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्-मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अद्भुता: wonderful
• अद्भुता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कथा: story
• कथा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तात: O dear one / O father
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्राविता: has been narrated / was caused to be heard
• श्राविता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle) of causative ‘श्रावयति’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense)

• परिमेशितुः: of the supreme ruler (Lord)
• परिमेशितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि-मा (धातु) → परिमेशितृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ‘परिमेशितृ’ = ruler/lord

Speaker

Vyāsa

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes the authority-chain (Vyāsa → Sanatkumāra → Śiva-kathā) typical of Purāṇic transmission; hearing such kathā at Śiva-sthalas is treated as a primary means of accruing merit and ripening for grace.

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• Sanatkumāra
• Shiva (Parameśvara)

FAQs

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

The verse sanctifies śravaṇa (devotional listening) as a valid means of receiving Śiva-kathā—knowledge and grace-centered narrative about Parameśvara—affirming that sacred history becomes spiritually transformative when heard with reverence toward Śiva.

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

By calling Śiva “Parameśvara,” the verse frames the coming narrative as revelation about the Supreme who is approached in Saguna forms (including the Liṅga) for devotion and grace, while remaining the highest Lord beyond all limitations.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śiva-kathā-śravaṇa—regular listening/recitation of Shiva Purana with focused mind and devotion, ideally preceded by simple purity observances (e.g., vibhūti/Tripuṇḍra and remembrance of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).