Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

शिवपुत्रजननवर्णनम् — Description of the Birth/Manifestation of Śiva’s Son

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याज्ञां शिरसाऽधाय विष्ण्वाद्यास्सकलास्सुराः । अकार्षुर्वमनं शीघ्रं स्मरंतश्शिवमव्ययम्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ityājñāṃ śirasā'dhāya viṣṇvādyāssakalāssurāḥ | akārṣurvamanaṃ śīghraṃ smaraṃtaśśivamavyayam

Translation

Brahmā dit : Ayant ainsi reçu l’ordre sur leurs têtes (en signe d’assentiment révérencieux), tous les dieux, conduits par Viṣṇu, provoquèrent promptement le vomissement, tout en se souvenant de Śiva, le Seigneur impérissable.

Word by Word

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात), marks end of speech/thought

• ājñām: command
• ājñām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śirasā: with (their) head
• śirasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ādhāya: having placed (on the head)
• ādhāya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-dhā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त), having placed/borne (upon)

• viṣṇu-ādyāḥ: Viṣṇu and others
• viṣṇu-ādyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुषः ‘Viṣṇu and others’

• sakalāḥ: all
• sakalāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies surāḥ

• surāḥ: the gods
• surāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• akārṣuḥ: they made/did
• akārṣuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• vamanam: going/approach (vamanam)
• vamanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• smarantaḥ: remembering
• smarantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमान-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• avyayam: imperishable
• avyayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies śivam

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse depicts devas obeying a divine injunction and taking refuge in remembrance of Śiva while performing a purificatory act (vamana).

Significance: Highlights smaraṇa (remembrance) of Śiva as a means of purification and protection even amid extraordinary, transgressive, or humiliating circumstances.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights that even the devas act effectively only when they inwardly take refuge in Śiva—the imperishable Pati—showing that Shiva-smaraṇa (remembrance) is the stabilizing spiritual power behind action and purification.

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

Remembering Śiva while performing a purificatory act reflects Saguna upāsanā: devotion directed to the Lord as a personal, grace-bestowing reality, often approached through Linga-worship and mantra as the accessible focus for Shiva-smaraṇa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is purification joined with remembrance: perform inner cleansing (letting go of impurities) while repeating a Shiva-mantra such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and holding steady awareness of Śiva as avyaya (unchanging).