Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 50

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

यत्कर्तव्यं शंकरस्य स ज्ञात्वा विश्वपालकः । शिवशासनतः प्राह हृदाथ मुनिसत्तमम्

Transliteration

yatkartavyaṃ śaṃkarasya sa jñātvā viśvapālakaḥ | śivaśāsanataḥ prāha hṛdātha munisattamam

Translation

Ayant compris ce qui devait être fait pour Śaṅkara, le Protecteur de l'univers, agissant sous le commandement de Śiva, il parla alors de son cœur au meilleur des sages.

Word by Word

• यत्: what (that which)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• कर्तव्यम्: to be done, duty
• कर्तव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be done’ (gerundive)

• शंकरस्य: of Śaṅkara
• शंकरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्यय; पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया

• विश्वपालकः: protector of the world
• विश्वपालकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व+पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विश्वस्य पालकः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शिवशासनतः: from Śiva’s command / by Śiva’s order
• शिवशासनतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव+शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य शासनम्); तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययवत्; पञ्चमी-अर्थे (ablatival) एकवचन-प्रयोगः

• प्राह: said, spoke
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• हृदा: with (his) heart, in mind
• हृदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तरार्थक (then/now)

• मुनिसत्तमम्: the best of sages
• मुनिसत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि+सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मुनीनां सत्तमः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as the supreme Lord (Pati) whose ordinance guides even the cosmic preserver; true dharma is aligning one’s action with Śiva’s command, performed sincerely “from the heart.”

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

By stressing “Śiva’s command,” the verse supports Saguna devotion—seeing Śiva as the personal Lord who directs creation and preservation—an attitude central to Linga-worship where the devotee submits will and action to Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śiva-ājñā-anusaraṇa (living by Śiva’s ordinance): daily Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with heartfelt intention, offering one’s duties to Śiva as worship.