Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 50

हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्

The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms

Devanagari script

मयाज्ञप्ता अपि च ते संसारविमुखा बुधाः । शिवध्यानैकमनसो न सृष्टौ चक्रिरे मतिम्

Transliteration

mayājñaptā api ca te saṃsāravimukhā budhāḥ | śivadhyānaikamanaso na sṛṣṭau cakrire matim

Translation

Bien que je les eusse mandatés, ces sages—détournés du saṃsāra—gardèrent l’esprit fixé uniquement sur la méditation de Śiva, et ne portèrent pas leur intention vers la création.

Word by Word

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करण (by me)

• आज्ञप्ताः: commanded/ordered
• आज्ञप्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√ज्ञा (धातु) → आज्ञप्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifies ते/बुधाः)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवादार्थक निपात (also/even)

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

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• संसार-विमुखाः: turned away from worldly existence
• संसार-विमुखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + विमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘turned away from saṃsāra’)

• बुधाः: the wise ones
• बुधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शिव-ध्यान-एक-मनसः: single-minded in meditation on Śiva
• शिव-ध्यान-एक-मनसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (एकं मनः येषां शिवध्यानविषये—‘whose mind is solely in meditation on Śiva’)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• सृष्टौ: in creation
• सृष्टौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (in creation/activity of creation)

• चक्रिरे: they made / they set
• चक्रिरे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• मतिम्: intention/mind
• मतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights vairāgya and one-pointed Śiva-dhyāna as superior to worldly aims: the wise reject saṃsāra and seek liberation by fixing the mind on Pati (Śiva), the giver of mokṣa.

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

By emphasizing exclusive Śiva-contemplation, it supports Saguna upāsanā—such as meditating on Śiva in the Liṅga—leading the devotee from form-based focus toward the transcendent reality of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śiva-dhyāna with ekāgratā (single-pointedness): steady meditation on Śiva (often aided by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and traditional aids like bhasma and rudrākṣa where appropriate).