Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

ईश्वरागमनं हिमवदादि-समागमश्च / The Arrival of Īśvara and the Assembly of Himālaya, Devas, and Mountains

Devanagari script

सगुणं निर्गुणं चापि भक्ताधीनं कृपाकरम् । प्रकृतेः पुरुषस्यापि परं सच्चित्सुखात्मकम्

Transliteration

saguṇaṃ nirguṇaṃ cāpi bhaktādhīnaṃ kṛpākaram | prakṛteḥ puruṣasyāpi paraṃ saccitsukhātmakam

Translation

彼は有相（saguṇa）であり、また無相（nirguṇa）でもある。慈悲深く、恩寵によって、あたかも帰依者に依り添い従うかのように在す。彼はプラクリティ（Prakṛti）とプルシャ（Puruṣa）をも超える至上者であり、その本性は sat–cit–sukha—有・覚知・至福である。

Word by Word

• sa-guṇam: with attributes
• sa-guṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः—कर्मधारयः (possessing qualities)

• nir-guṇam: without attributes
• nir-guṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारयः (without attributes)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अपि = also/even)

• bhakta-adhīnam: dependent on devotees
• bhakta-adhīnam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + adhīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (dependent on devotees)

• kṛpā-karam: compassionate
• kṛpā-karam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (maker/bestower of compassion)

• prakṛteḥ: from/beyond Prakṛti (Nature)
• prakṛteḥ: Apadana (अपादान/From, beyond)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी) or Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; here in comparison: 'beyond prakṛti' (ablative)

• puruṣasya: of Puruṣa (the person/principle)
• puruṣasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अपि = even/also)

• param: supreme
• param: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; 'supreme' qualifying the deity

• sat-cit-sukha-ātmakam: whose essence is existence, consciousness, and bliss
• sat-cit-sukha-ātmakam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + cit (प्रातिपदिक) + sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (having the nature of being-consciousness-bliss)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, within the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as the supreme Pati: transcending Prakṛti and the individual self, yet graciously accessible—both nirguṇa in essence and saguṇa for devotion—whose reality is sat (being), cit (consciousness), and sukha (bliss).

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

Though Shiva is nirguṇa, He accepts saguṇa modes for the devotee’s sake; Linga-worship becomes a focused, concrete support (ālambana) through which the devotee approaches the transcendent sat–cit–sukha Shiva by grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as “sat–cit–sukha” while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating bhakti so that His kṛpā (grace) becomes the direct means to inner purification and liberation.