Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31

सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering

Devanagari script

पीतं मणिमयं धर्मो वरुणश्श्यामलं शिवम् । इन्द्रनीलमयं विष्णुर्ब्रह्मा हेममयं तथा

Transliteration

pītaṃ maṇimayaṃ dharmo varuṇaśśyāmalaṃ śivam | indranīlamayaṃ viṣṇurbrahmā hemamayaṃ tathā

Translation

Le Dharma rayonne d’un éclat jaune, tel un joyau ; Varuṇa est de teinte sombre, au teint semblable à celui de Śiva. Viṣṇu resplendit comme le saphir (indranīla), et Brahmā, de même, est doré comme l’or pur.

Word by Word

• पीतम्: yellow
• पीतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक; √पा ‘पाने’ इत्यस्य क्त-प्रत्ययान्त/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle) ‘पीत’ = ‘पानं कृतम्/पीतवर्णः’ (अत्र वर्णवाचक)

• मणिमयम्: made of gems
• मणिमयम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मणि-मय (प्रातिपदिक; मणि + मय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मणिभिः मयम् = made of gems)

• धर्मः: Dharma (deity)
• धर्मः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वरुणः: Varuṇa
• वरुणः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्यामलम्: dark/greenish-black
• श्यामलम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्यामल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिवम्: Śiva(-liṅga)
• शिवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अत्र ‘शिवम् (लिङ्गम्)’ इति लुप्तोपपद-सम्बन्धः (elliptic)

• इन्द्रनीलमयम्: made of sapphire
• इन्द्रनीलमयम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्रनील-मय (प्रातिपदिक; इन्द्रनील + मय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (इन्द्रनीलेन मयम् = made of sapphire)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हेममयम्: made of gold
• हेममयम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम-मय (प्रातिपदिक; हेम + मय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (हेम्ना मयम् = made of gold)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/also)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Sṛṣṭi-kathā (creation discourse) with deity-typology by varṇa/tejas (radiance)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Varuna
• Dharma

FAQs

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

It presents the deities through symbolic radiance and color, guiding the devotee to see cosmic functions (dharma, waters, preservation, creation) as ordered powers within the divinely auspicious reality of Śiva-tattva, supporting contemplative devotion rather than mere mythology.

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

By describing recognizable divine forms and qualities, it supports saguna contemplation; in Śaiva practice these forms culminate in Linga-worship, where all names, colors, and functions are gathered into the one auspicious Lord (Śiva) who transcends yet pervades them.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use dhyāna (meditation) on auspicious divine radiance while chanting the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and offer water and bilva to the Śiva-liṅga, mentally surrendering all cosmic powers to Śiva as the inner ruler.