Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

दक्षस्य प्रजावृद्ध्युपायः — Dakṣa’s Means for Increasing Progeny

Devanagari script

त्वं च तान् नारद ज्ञात्वा तपतस्सृष्टि हेतवे । अगमस्तत्र भूरीणि हार्दमाज्ञाय मापतेः

Transliteration

tvaṃ ca tān nārada jñātvā tapatassṛṣṭi hetave | agamastatra bhūrīṇi hārdamājñāya māpateḥ

Translation

また汝も、ああナーラダよ——それらを悟り、創造のために苦行（タパス）を行おうと願って——そこへ赴き、万有を量り治める主（シヴァ）の胸奥の命を心に受け、多くの修行を成就した。

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; विशेष-नाम

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having known)

• तपतः: of austerity
• तपतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• सृष्टि: creation
• सृष्टि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• हेतवे: for the purpose/cause
• हेतवे: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• अगमः: went
• अगमः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: आ- (here written without in text)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• भूरीणि: many
• भूरीणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; परिमाणवाचक विशेषण

• हार्दम्: the inner intention/heart (matter)
• हार्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हार्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘हृदयसम्बन्धि’ (of the heart/mind)

• आज्ञाय: having understood
• आज्ञाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ज्ञा (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having understood/learned)

• मापतेः: of Māpati
• मापतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मापति (प्रातिपदिक; विशेष-नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages, reporting the instruction addressed to Narada)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that true sacred action (tapas) begins after inwardly receiving Śiva’s command; in Shaiva Siddhānta, Pati (Śiva) initiates and directs the soul toward right effort, making austerity fruitful and aligned with dharma and cosmic order.

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

By stressing obedience to the Lord’s ‘heartfelt command,’ it supports Saguna Śiva worship—approaching Śiva as the personal Master who guides devotees; Linga worship becomes not mere ritual but a response to Śiva’s inner prompting and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A takeaway is disciplined tapas supported by japa and inner listening—e.g., repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steadiness, optionally with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa, while aligning one’s resolve to Śiva’s will.