Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

शिवतत्त्ववर्णनम् (Śiva-tattva-varṇana) — “Description/Exposition of the Principle of Śiva”

Devanagari script

एकरूपा न भेदस्तु भेदे वै बंधनं भवेत् । तथापि च मदीयं हि शिवरूपं सनातनम्

Transliteration

ekarūpā na bhedastu bhede vai baṃdhanaṃ bhavet | tathāpi ca madīyaṃ hi śivarūpaṃ sanātanam

Translation

我は一つの不二なる本性であり、真に我に差別はない。差別を立てるところに束縛が生ずる。されどなお、我がシヴァとしての自性の姿は永遠である。

Word by Word

• eka-rūpā: of one form, uniform
• eka-rūpā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: ‘एकं रूपं यस्याः/या’ (of one form)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• bhedaḥ: difference
• bhedaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• bhede: in difference, when there is difference
• bhede: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative, 7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• bandhanam: bondage
• bandhanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bandhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhavet: would be/arises
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• tathā-api: nevertheless
• tathā-api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय) + api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विरोधार्थक अव्यय-समूह (adverbial phrase: nevertheless)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• madīyam: my
• madīyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madīya (प्रातिपदिक; अस्मद्-सम्बन्ध)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) śivarūpam प्रति

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतु/निश्चय-अव्यय (particle: for/indeed)

• śiva-rūpam: Śiva-form, form of Śiva
• śiva-rūpam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘शिवस्य रूपम्’ (Śiva’s form)

• sanātanam: eternal
• sanātanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) śivarūpam प्रति

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that clinging to perceived separateness (bheda) strengthens pasha (bondage), while recognizing Shiva as the one eternal Reality (Pati) leads the soul toward liberation.

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

Though Shiva is ultimately undivided, devotees approach Him through His eternal Śivarūpa—iconic worship such as the Śiva-liṅga helps the bound soul focus on the one Pati and transcend dualistic grasping.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on oneness while japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), using the Śiva-liṅga as a steady support; the practice is to drop bheda-buddhi (separative thinking) and rest the mind in Śiva-tattva.