Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

सतीप्राप्तिविषये ब्रह्मरुद्रसंवादः | The Brahmā–Śiva Dialogue on Attaining Satī

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति रुद्रोक्तवचनं लोकाचारसुगर्भितम् । श्रुत्वाहं नारदमुने सांत्वयन्नगदं शिवम्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | iti rudroktavacanaṃ lokācārasugarbhitam | śrutvāhaṃ nāradamune sāṃtvayannagadaṃ śivam

Translation

Brahmā dit : « Ô sage Nārada, ayant ainsi entendu les paroles prononcées par Rudra — des paroles profondément imprégnées des convenances de la conduite mondaine — j'ai alors cherché à consoler ce Seigneur Śiva sans défaut. »

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद, perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — ‘said’

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/निगमन-अव्यय (quotative)

• रुद्रोक्तवचनम्: Rudra’s spoken words
• रुद्रोक्तवचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र + उक्त + वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular; तत्पुरुष: रुद्रेण उक्तं वचनम् = ‘the statement spoken by Rudra’

• लोकाचारसुगर्भितम्: rich in social propriety
• लोकाचारसुगर्भितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक-आचार-सु-गर्भित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — adjective qualifying ‘वचनम्’; समास: लोकाचार-सुगर्भित = ‘well-filled with worldly propriety’

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, absolutive) — having heard

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• नारदमुने: O sage Narada
• नारदमुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद + मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन — Vocative singular; कर्मधारय: नारदः मुनिः = ‘sage Nārada’

• सान्त्वयन्: consoling
• सान्त्वयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सान्त्वय् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय, present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘while consoling’

• अगदम्: speech/words (message)
• अगदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Brahma
• Narada

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva (Pati) as intrinsically faultless and beyond agitation, yet participating in worldly decorum for the welfare of beings; Brahmā’s consoling reflects reverent service to the Supreme while honoring dharma in narrative context.

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

By calling Śiva “blameless” and portraying him in relational, compassionate dialogue, the verse supports Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva as a personal Lord worthy of praise, prayer, and worship (including Liṅga worship) while remembering his transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate takeaway is sāṃtvana—devotional calming through prayerful speech: mentally offer praise, recite Śiva’s names (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and cultivate steadiness and dharmic conduct in one’s own responses.