Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

सतीकृतप्रार्थना तथा परतत्त्वजिज्ञासा — Satī’s Prayer and Inquiry into the Supreme Principle

Devanagari script

विहिताविहिताभेदात्तामनेकां विदुर्बुधाः । तयोर्बहुविधत्वाच्च तत्त्वं त्वन्यत्र वर्णितम्

Transliteration

vihitāvihitābhedāttāmanekāṃ vidurbudhāḥ | tayorbahuvidhatvācca tattvaṃ tvanyatra varṇitam

Translation

定められたことと禁じられたこととの区別によって、その修行・戒行には多くの形があると賢者は知る。しかも両者とも多種多様であるゆえ、その真の要義は他所に説かれている。

Word by Word

• विहित-अविहित-भेदात्: from the distinction of prescribed and unprescribed
• विहित-अविहित-भेदात्: Apādāna/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vihita + avihita + bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी/अपादान (Ablative, 5th), एकवचन (Singular); द्वन्द्व-समास (vihita & avihita) + तत्पुरुष-सम्बन्ध ‘भेद’

• ताम्: that (naiṣṭhikī)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया/कर्म (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अनेकाम्: many/various
• अनेकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aneka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया/कर्म (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विदुः: know/consider
• विदुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• बुधाः: the wise (people)
• बुधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध (Genitive, 6th), द्विवचन (Dual)

• बहुविधत्वात्: because of (their) manifoldness
• बहुविधत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahuvidhatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी/हेतु (Ablative, 5th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (bahuvidha + tva)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction), अव्यय

• तत्त्वम्: the principle/true nature
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc., 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha/Contrast (सम्बन्ध/विरोध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle of contrast), अव्यय

• अन्यत्र: elsewhere
• अन्यत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place), ‘elsewhere’

• वर्णितम्: has been described
• वर्णितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: varṇ (धातु) + ita (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc., 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches discernment: spiritual life in Shaiva dharma requires knowing what supports Shiva-realization (vihita) and what obstructs it (avihita). The verse stresses that practices vary, but their guiding principle is to reduce bondage (pāśa) and orient the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati).

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

Linga/Saguna worship is rule-guided—purity, mantra, offerings, and conduct are typically vihita, while disrespect, impurity, or prohibited actions are avihita. The verse notes that these rules have many subtypes, and their deeper rationale is explained elsewhere: to make worship steady, reverent, and transformative.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined observance: follow prescribed Shaiva practices such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and maintain ritual purity, while avoiding prohibited actions that disturb devotion and inner clarity.