Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 2

गणेशोत्पत्ति-प्रसङ्गः / Episode on the Origin of Gaṇeśa (Śvetakalpa Account)

Devanagari script

नारद उवाच । देवदेव प्रजानाथ शिवज्ञाननिधे मया । श्रुतं कार्तिकसद्वृत्तममृतादपि चोत्तमम्

Transliteration

nārada uvāca | devadeva prajānātha śivajñānanidhe mayā | śrutaṃ kārtikasadvṛttamamṛtādapi cottamam

Translation

Nārada dit : Ô Dieu des dieux, Ô Seigneur des êtres, Ô trésor de la connaissance de Śiva — j’ai entendu la noble conduite de Kārttikeya, un récit sacré plus excellent encore que l’amṛta, le nectar d’immortalité.

Word by Word

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• देव-देव: O God of gods
• देव-देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (देवानां देवः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• प्रजा-नाथ: O lord of creatures
• प्रजा-नाथ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक) + nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (of creatures); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• शिव-ज्ञान-निधे: O treasure of Śiva-knowledge
• शिव-ज्ञान-निधे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + nidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative; ‘treasure of Śiva-knowledge’); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• श्रुतम्: heard
• श्रुतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘heard’

• कार्तिक-सत्-वृत्तम्: the noble story of Kārtika
• कार्तिक-सत्-वृत्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārtika (प्रातिपदिक) + sat (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛtta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative; ‘Kārtika’s good account’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अमृतात्: than nectar
• अमृतात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• उत्तमम्: excellent/supreme
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) कार्तिकसद्वृत्तम्-शब्दस्य

Speaker

Nārada

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: By addressing Brahmā as ‘śivajñāna-nidhi’, the verse elevates Śiva-jñāna as the true ‘amṛta’; pilgrimage here is interiorized as seeking right knowledge and method.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: devadeva prajānātha śivajñānanidhe

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Shiva
• Kartikeya

FAQs

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

The verse praises śravaṇa (devout listening) to sacred Shaiva narratives, presenting Kārttikeya’s virtuous life as a purifier of the mind and a doorway to śiva-jñāna—knowledge that leads the bound soul (paśu) toward grace and liberation under Pati (Śiva).

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

By addressing Śiva as ‘Devadeva’ and ‘Śivajñānanidhi,’ Nārada approaches Saguna Śiva—the compassionate Lord accessible through name, form, and sacred story—supporting devotional worship that culminates in deeper realization of Śiva’s supreme nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa and kīrtana: regularly hearing and reciting Shaiva kathā with reverence, ideally alongside remembrance of Śiva (japa of ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) to internalize virtue and devotion.