Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 32

विष्णोर्दर्शनं स्तुतिश्च

Viṣṇu’s Manifestation and Brahmā’s Hymn

Devanagari script

रुद्रं जानासि दुर्बुद्धे स्वसुतं परमेश्वरम् । वेदवक्तापि विज्ञानं विस्मृतं तेखिलं विधे

Transliteration

rudraṃ jānāsi durbuddhe svasutaṃ parameśvaram | vedavaktāpi vijñānaṃ vismṛtaṃ tekhilaṃ vidhe

Translation

Ô esprit insensé, tu tiens Rudra—le Seigneur suprême—pour ton propre fils. Ô Vidhi (Brahmā), bien que tu proclames les Veda, tout discernement véritable s’est, en vérité, effacé de toi.

Word by Word

• rudram: Rudra
• rudram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• jānāsi: you know
• jānāsi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• dur-buddhe: O foolish one
• dur-buddhe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dur (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—कर्मधारयः (‘bad intellect’)

• sva-sutam: (as) your own son
• sva-sutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘one’s own son’)

• parama-īśvaram: the Supreme Lord
• parama-īśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—कर्मधारयः (‘supreme lord’)

• veda-vaktā: speaker of the Veda
• veda-vaktā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + vaktṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) ‘even/also’

• vijñānam: knowledge
• vijñānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vijñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• vismṛtam: forgotten
• vismṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-smṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); ‘forgotten’

• te: of you/your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• akhilam: entire/all
• akhilam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• vidhe: O Vidhātr̥ (Brahmā)
• vidhe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhātr̥/vidhi (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Rudra)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that scriptural authority without inner realization can become mere pride; true vijñāna is recognizing Shiva (Pati) as the Supreme Lord, not reducing Him to a worldly relation like “my son.”

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

The verse reinforces that Shiva is Parameśvara—worthy of direct worship as the highest reality. Linga/Saguna worship is a disciplined way to correct mistaken notions and cultivate right recognition and surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate humility and right discernment through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady Shiva-upāsanā (such as Tripuṇḍra/bhasma and Rudrākṣa when appropriate), focusing on Shiva as the Supreme, not as an object of egoic claim.