Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

दिव्य-भवन-छत्र-निर्माणः तथा देवसमाह्वानम्

Divine Pavilion and Canopy; Summoning the Gods

Devanagari script

ब्रह्माणं लोककर्तारमवोचद्वचनं त्विदम् । व्यापयन्स्वं वराधीनं स्वतंत्रं भक्तवत्सलः

Transliteration

brahmāṇaṃ lokakartāramavocadvacanaṃ tvidam | vyāpayansvaṃ varādhīnaṃ svataṃtraṃ bhaktavatsalaḥ

Translation

Lalu Ia berbicara kepada Brahma, pencipta alam-alam: “Aku meresapi segalanya; namun demi anugerah, Aku menempatkan diri-Ku di bawah ketentuannya. Walau senantiasa merdeka, Aku penuh kasih kepada para bhakta.”

Word by Word

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• लोक-कर्तारम्: the creator of the world
• लोक-कर्तारम्: सम्बोधन-विशेष्य (Appositive to object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘लोकस्य कर्ता’

• अवोचत्: said, spoke
• अवोचत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: अ (augment)

• वचनम्: words, statement
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तु: indeed, however
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; वचनम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• व्यापयन्: pervading, spreading
• व्यापयन्: कर्ता (Kartā; participial qualifier of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-आप् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: वि; अर्थः—‘व्यापयन्/व्याप्नुवन्’ (pervading/spreading)

• स्वम्: his own (power/being)
• स्वम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मीयवाचक (reflexive/possessive pronoun)

• वर-आधीनम्: dependent on a boon
• वर-आधीनम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of स्वम्/implicit)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + आधीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘वरेण आधीनम्’ (dependent on a boon)

• स्वतन्त्रम्: independent
• स्वतन्त्रम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वतन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (coordinated with वराधीनम्)

• भक्त-वत्सलः: loving toward devotees
• भक्त-वत्सलः: विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम् (qualifying implied Śiva)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Rudra)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva as Pati—the all-pervading, sovereign Lord—who nevertheless willingly responds to devotion. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, the bound soul (paśu) is liberated not by controlling Shiva, but by receiving His grace, which is especially drawn forth through bhakti.

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

The verse supports Saguna worship: although Shiva is beyond limitation, He accepts approachable forms and devotional relationships. Linga worship embodies this—Shiva is infinite and formless in essence, yet graciously present in a worshipable, sanctifying symbol for devotees.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steady bhakti: daily japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with devotion, along with simple Shiva-upasana such as offering water to the Linga and wearing rudrāksha or applying tripuṇḍra with reverence, cultivating the devotee’s relationship that invites Shiva’s grace.