Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46

विष्णोर्दर्शनं स्तुतिश्च

Viṣṇu’s Manifestation and Brahmā’s Hymn

Devanagari script

भक्ताधीनौ च तौ तात सुविज्ञेयौ शिवाशिवौ । स्वेच्छया सगुणौ जातौ परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणौ

Transliteration

bhaktādhīnau ca tau tāta suvijñeyau śivāśivau | svecchayā saguṇau jātau parabrahmasvarūpiṇau

Translation

Ô bien-aimé, sache clairement que Śiva et Śakti dépendent véritablement de leurs dévots. Bien que leur essence soit le Parabrahman suprême, par leur libre volonté ils se manifestent avec des attributs (saguṇa), afin que les bhaktas puissent s’approcher et les adorer.

Word by Word

• भक्त-अधीनौ: dependent on devotees
• भक्त-अधीनौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अधीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भक्तानाम् अधीनौ = dependent on devotees)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• तात: O dear one (son)
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधन-पद

• सु-विज्ञेयौ: well to be known / easily knowable
• सु-विज्ञेयौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ज्ञा (धातु) → विज्ञेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थ-योग्यः: ल्युट्/तव्यत्-भावार्थः (gerundive: ‘to be known’), उपसर्ग ‘वि’ + उपपद ‘सु’ (well)

• शिव-अशिवौ: Śiva and non-Śiva (auspicious and non-auspicious)
• शिव-अशिवौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अशिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (Śiva and Aśiva)

• स्व-इच्छया: by their own will
• स्व-इच्छया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य इच्छा = one’s own will)

• स-गुणौ: with attributes (saguṇa)
• स-गुणौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (सगुण = with qualities/attributes)

• जातौ: born / became
• जातौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘born/come to be’

• पर-ब्रह्म-स्वरूपिणौ: having the nature of the Supreme Brahman
• पर-ब्रह्म-स्वरूपिणौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (परब्रह्मणः स्वरूपिणौ = having the nature of the Supreme Brahman)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Parabrahman
• Devotees

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva and Shakti, though supreme and transcendent (Parabrahman), lovingly accept a manifest, approachable form for the sake of bhaktas—showing that divine grace responds to devotion.

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

The verse supports saguna-upasana: the Lord freely assumes knowable attributes and forms, which aligns with Linga worship as a compassionate, accessible focus through which devotees connect to the transcendental reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Bhakti-centered worship is implied: daily Linga puja with Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offered with sincerity, understanding that Shiva becomes present to the devotee through willing grace.