Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29

देव-गण-समरः

Devas and Śiva’s Gaṇas Engage in Battle

Devanagari script

परं तु संवदिष्यामि कार्याकार्य विवक्षितौ । सिध्यंशं च सुरेशान तं शृणु त्वं हिताय वै

Transliteration

paraṃ tu saṃvadiṣyāmi kāryākārya vivakṣitau | sidhyaṃśaṃ ca sureśāna taṃ śṛṇu tvaṃ hitāya vai

Translation

さて私は、意図するところに従い、なすべきこととなすべからざることをさらに説こう。神々の主よ、成就を得るための有効な手段を—まことに汝の利益のため—聞け。

Word by Word

• परम्: the highest (truth)/the supreme matter
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मरूपेण (object)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-निपात (but/indeed)

• संवदिष्यामि: I will speak/discourse
• संवदिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + वद् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद; उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• कार्य: what should be done
• कार्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• अकार्य: what should not be done
• अकार्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• विवक्षितौ: (the two) intended/under discussion
• विवक्षितौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle) ‘विवक्षित’ = intended/expressed; द्विवचन (Dual), प्रथमा (Nominative); (कार्य-अकार्ये) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सिध्यंशम्: the effective portion/essential part
• सिध्यंशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिध्यंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (पाठभेद-संभवः: सिद्ध्यंशम्/सिद्ध्यंशं)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुरेशान: O Lord of the gods
• सुरेशान: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरेशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• तम्: that (teaching)/it
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शृणु: hear/listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद; मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हिताय: for (your) welfare
• हिताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (or पुंलिङ्ग-भाव), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (for the sake of)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing Indra/devas in the Sati Khanda context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra

FAQs

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

The verse frames Shiva as the supreme teacher (Pati) who clarifies dharma—what should and should not be done—so that the soul moves toward auspiciousness and true accomplishment under divine guidance.

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

By emphasizing right action and the ‘means of success,’ it supports Saguna Shiva worship (such as Linga-pūjā) as a disciplined path where conduct, devotion, and correct practice align the devotee with Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined Shaiva sādhana—listening to Shiva’s instruction (śravaṇa), following dharmic do’s and don’ts, and grounding practice in devotion such as mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regular worship.