Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 27

रुद्रस्य परमात्मत्वे ब्रह्मपुत्रत्वादिसंशयप्रश्नः — Questions on Rudra’s Supremacy and His ‘Sonship’ to Brahmā

Devanagari script

स्रष्टा त्वं भगवानाद्यः पालकः परमार्थतः । अहं च तपसाराध्य रुद्रं त्रिदशनायकम्

Transliteration

sraṣṭā tvaṃ bhagavānādyaḥ pālakaḥ paramārthataḥ | ahaṃ ca tapasārādhya rudraṃ tridaśanāyakam

Translation

おお原初の主よ、真に創造し護持するのはただあなたのみ。しかして我は苦行によって、神々の導き手ルドラを礼拝する。

Word by Word

• स्रष्टा: creator
• स्रष्टा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (agent noun), तृच्/तृन्-प्रत्ययान्त ‘स्रष्टृ’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक

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

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेष्य/सम्बोधनार्थे (honorific)

• आद्यः: primeval, first
• आद्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• पालकः: protector
• पालकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक

• परम्-अर्थतः: in ultimate truth
• परम्-अर्थतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिलन्त अव्यय; अर्थः ‘परमार्थे/तत्त्वतः’ (in the highest truth)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• आराध्य: having worshipped
• आराध्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समानार्थक अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having propitiated/worshipped’

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• त्रिदश-नायकम्: leader of the thirty gods
• त्रिदश-नायकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदश (प्रातिपदिक) + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; रुद्रम् इति विशेषणवत्/उपाधि

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It affirms Pati-tattva: Rudra (Shiva) is the ultimate Lord behind creation and preservation, and even Brahma approaches Him through tapas, showing that divine grace is attained by devotion and inner discipline.

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

By naming Rudra as the supreme leader and sustainer, the verse supports Saguna worship (Rudra-Shiva with attributes) as a valid and exalted approach—often expressed in the Purana through Linga-upasana as the accessible form of the transcendent Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Tapas-oriented Shiva-upasana: steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), meditation on Rudra as the inner ruler, and disciplined worship (optionally with bhasma/Tripundra and Rudraksha) to cultivate purity and devotion.