Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10

कामप्रादुर्भावः — The Manifestation/Arising of Kāma

Devanagari script

ततस्सोपि मया पृष्टो विष्णुश्शैववरस्सुधीः । प्रीत्या मह्यं समाचख्यौ विस्तरान्मुनिसत्तम

Transliteration

tatassopi mayā pṛṣṭo viṣṇuśśaivavarassudhīḥ | prītyā mahyaṃ samācakhyau vistarānmunisattama

Translation

ಆಮೇಲೆ ನಾನೂ ಅವರನ್ನು ಪ್ರಶ್ನಿಸಿದೆನು—ಶೈವರಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠನಾದ, ಮಹಾಬುದ್ಧಿವಂತನಾದ ವಿಷ್ಣುವನ್ನು. ಪ್ರೀತಿಯಿಂದ ಅವರು ನನಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ವಿವರವಾಗಿ ತಿಳಿಸಿದರು, ಓ ಮುನಿಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ.

Word by Word

• tatas: then/thereupon
• tatas: Kāla/Deśa-adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): 'thereupon/then'

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): समुच्चय/अपि = 'also/even'

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• pṛṣṭaḥ: asked
• pṛṣṭaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः: 'having been asked'

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्य

• śaiva-varaḥ: best among Śaivas / devoted to Śiva
• śaiva-varaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaiva (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'of Śiva' → 'Śaiva'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• sudhīḥ: wise
• sudhīḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सु + धी); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• prītyā: with affection / out of love
• prītyā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक

• mahyam: to me
• mahyam: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• samācakhyau: told/related
• samācakhyau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-cakṣ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'he related/told'

• vistarāt: in detail / at length
• vistarāt: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/अधिकरणार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vistara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे 'in detail/at length'

• muni-sattama: O best of sages
• muni-sattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'of sages' → 'best among sages'); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma (narrating to a sage, within Sati Khanda context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms that true wisdom culminates in reverence to Pati (Śiva); even Viṣṇu is praised as śaiva-vara, showing that devotion to Śiva is honored as a supreme spiritual orientation leading toward grace and liberation.

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

By calling Viṣṇu the foremost among Śaivas and depicting him teaching “in detail,” the text frames Śiva-worship as authoritative and universally respected—supporting Saguna Śiva devotion (including Liṅga-upāsanā) as a legitimate, grace-bearing path within the Purāṇic tradition.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śravaṇa (devotional listening) and guru-vākya-grahaṇa—receiving detailed instruction with faith; this naturally supports regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined Śiva-bhakti as taught by realized authorities.