Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

सेवार्थं तस्य तनयामुपदिश्य तपस्विनः तं । वै प्रार्थितवांस्तस्यां न तदांगीचकार सः

Transliteration

sevārthaṃ tasya tanayāmupadiśya tapasvinaḥ taṃ | vai prārthitavāṃstasyāṃ na tadāṃgīcakāra saḥ

Translation

奉仕のために、その苦行者は彼にその聖仙の娘を勧め示した。彼は確かに彼女の手を求めたが、その時彼女は受け入れなかった。

Word by Word

• सेवार्थम्: for service
• सेवार्थम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवा + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (सेवायाः अर्थः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक (purpose)

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• तनयाम्: daughter
• तनयाम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उपदिश्य: having instructed
• उपदिश्य: पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), धातु: उपदिश्; ‘having instructed/assigned’

• तपस्विनः: of the ascetic
• तपस्विनः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (or प्रथमा बहुवचन possible by form; here gen. sg. fits: ‘of the ascetic’)

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• प्रार्थितवान्: requested
• प्रार्थितवान्: कर्ता (agent; with सः implied)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having requested’

• तस्याम्: in her/with her
• तस्याम्: अधिकरण (location/with regard to her)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध निपात (negation particle)

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• अङ्गीचकार: accepted
• अङ्गीचकार: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अङ्गी + कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘accepted/assented’

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights that even when a proposal is supported by ascetic authority, union is not merely social—it must align with inner readiness and dharma; in Shaiva thought, purity of intention and ripeness of karma govern life-events.

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

The Pārvatīkhaṇḍa frames relationships and life-stages as supports for approaching Saguna Shiva through disciplined living; the ideal of seva (service) becomes a preparatory bhakti that matures into steadfast devotion to Shiva (often expressed through Linga-worship).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to seva and restraint as the practical takeaway; a fitting Shaiva practice is daily Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with a service-vow, supported by Tripuṇḍra bhasma and rudrākṣa as reminders of discipline and devotion.