Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

स्वप्नवर्णनपूर्वकं संक्षेपशिवचरितवर्णनम् / Dream-Portents and a Concise Account of Śiva’s Career

Devanagari script

विप्रश्चैव तपस्वी मां सदयः प्रीतिपूर्वकम् । उपादिदेश सुतपः कर्तुं मातश्शिवस्य वै

Transliteration

vipraścaiva tapasvī māṃ sadayaḥ prītipūrvakam | upādideśa sutapaḥ kartuṃ mātaśśivasya vai

Translation

माता, उस दयालु तपस्वी विप्र ने स्नेहपूर्वक मुझे उपदेश दिया कि शिव की प्राप्ति के लिए मैं घोर तप करूँ।

Word by Word

• विप्रः: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• तपस्वी: an ascetic
• तपस्वी: Karta (कर्ता) — apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (विप्रः) इति विशेषणवत्

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• सदयः: compassionate
• सदयः: Karta (कर्ता) — qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदय (प्रातिपदिक: स + दय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (विप्रः) इति विशेषणम्

• प्रीतिपूर्वकम्: with affection / gladly
• प्रीतिपूर्वकम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रीतिपूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक: प्रीति + पूर्वक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial avyayībhāva)

• उपादिदेश: instructed / advised
• उपादिदेश: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुतपः: good austerity / severe penance
• सुतपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-तपस् (प्रातिपदिक: सु + तपस्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; (कर्तुम्) इत्यस्य कर्म

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन) — purpose
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थे

• मातः: O mother
• मातः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — genitive relation
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Pārvatī (narrating her earlier instruction to her mother)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva principle that sincere, well-guided tapas—done with devotion—purifies the seeker and becomes a vessel for Śiva’s grace (anugraha), leading toward union with the Lord.

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

The verse frames attainment of Śiva through disciplined practice; in Purāṇic Shaiva worship this commonly expresses itself as Saguna devotion—vrata, japa, and worship of the Śiva-liṅga—supported by inner austerity and purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Undertaking a vrata-like discipline: regulated living, japa of Śiva-mantras (classically the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and sustained tapas with a compassionate teacher’s guidance.