Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 68

दिव्य-भवन-छत्र-निर्माणः तथा देवसमाह्वानम्

Divine Pavilion and Canopy; Summoning the Gods

Devanagari script

शिवाशिवचरित्रं को जानाति परमार्थतः । स्वेच्छया क्रीडतस्तो हि चरितं कुरुतस्सदा

Transliteration

śivāśivacaritraṃ ko jānāti paramārthataḥ | svecchayā krīḍatasto hi caritaṃ kurutassadā

Translation

Qui peut connaître en vérité, dans la réalité suprême, le jeu merveilleux de Śiva ? Car Il accomplit sans cesse ses actes divins en toute liberté, jouant selon Sa propre volonté.

Word by Word

• śiva-aśiva-caritram: the auspicious and inauspicious deeds/acts (story)
• śiva-aśiva-caritram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + aśiva (प्रातिपदिक) + caritra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः: तत्पुरुष (determinative)

• kaḥ: who
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); interrogative pronoun

• jānāti: knows
• jānāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• paramārthataḥ: in truth; in the highest sense
• paramārthataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paramārtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय) adverb; तसिल्-प्रत्यय (ablatival adverb)

• sva-icchayā: by (his) own will
• sva-icchayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + icchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः: तत्पुरुष (genitive sense: 'one's own will')

• krīḍataḥ: of (him) who plays/sports
• krīḍataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: krīḍ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकृदन्त/शतृ), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); masculine/neuter genitive singular form used with following pronoun

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात/सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) expressing emphasis/indeed

• caritam: deed; conduct; story
• caritam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kurutaḥ: of (him) who does/makes
• kurutaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकृदन्त/शतृ), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); used with 'tasya' (of him who does)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s actions are not fully grasped by ordinary judgment; His deeds arise from sovereign freedom (svecchā) and are ultimately for cosmic order and the liberation of souls—hence the devotee responds with humility, surrender, and bhakti.

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

Since Śiva’s true intent is beyond full conceptual grasp, the Purana directs devotees to approach Him through accessible Saguna forms—especially Linga worship—where reverence, mantra, and offerings become a steady means to connect with the transcendent Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to contemplate Śiva’s caritra while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with an attitude of surrender to His will; this can be supported by simple Shiva-puja such as offering water to the Linga and wearing/holding rudrākṣa for japa.