Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

गोत्र-प्रवर-प्रश्नः तथा तिथ्यादि-कीर्तनं

Gotra–Pravara Inquiry and Proclamation of Auspicious Time

Devanagari script

अगोत्रकुलनामा हि स्वतन्त्रो भक्तवत्सलः । तदिच्छया हि सगुणस्सुतनुर्बहुनामभृत्

Transliteration

agotrakulanāmā hi svatantro bhaktavatsalaḥ | tadicchayā hi saguṇassutanurbahunāmabhṛt

Translation

ಅವನಿಗೆ ನಿಶ್ಚಿತ ಗೋತ್ರ, ಕುಲ, ಸೀಮಿತ ನಾಮವಿಲ್ಲ; ಅವನು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ, ಭಕ್ತವತ್ಸಲ. ಆದರೂ ತನ್ನ ಇಚ್ಛೆಯಿಂದ ಸಗುಣನಾಗಿ ಸುಂದರ ದೇಹ ಧರಿಸಿ ಅನೇಕ ನಾಮಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊರುತ್ತಾನೆ।

Word by Word

• अगोत्रकुलनामा: having no (fixed) gotra, kula, or name
• अगोत्रकुलनामा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-गोत्र + कुल + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—नञ्-तत्पुरुषः (अगोत्रः) + तत्पुरुषः (गोत्रकुलनामा = गोत्रं च कुलं च नाम च यस्य/यस्य नाम) (bahu-member determinative)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ-प्रयोग (indeed/for)

• स्वतन्त्रः: independent
• स्वतन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वतन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भक्तवत्सलः: affectionate to devotees
• भक्तवत्सलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भक्तेषु वत्सलः)

• तत्: of him/that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; (तस्य)

• इच्छया: by (his) will
• इच्छया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-भाव (by/through his will)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• सगुणः: with attributes (saguṇa)
• सगुणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (गुणैः सह)

• सुतनुः: of beautiful form
• सुतनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (सु-तनुः = शोभना तनुः यस्य)

• बहुनामभृत्: bearing many names
• बहुनामभृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + नामन् + भृ (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कृदन्तः—भृत् (भृ धातोः क्तिन्/क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्तः, ‘bearing’); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (बहूनि नामानि बिभर्ति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares Shiva as the limitless, name-transcending Supreme (Pati) who is nevertheless bhakta-vatsala—He voluntarily accepts form and names so devotees can approach Him through love and worship.

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

The verse grounds Saguna worship in divine freedom: Shiva is beyond all identifiers, yet out of His own will He becomes accessible through manifest forms—such as the Liṅga and named deities—without losing His transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice bhakti with a chosen name and form of Shiva—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and Liṅga-pūjā—understanding that the many names and forms are compassionate manifestations of the one independent Lord.