Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29

देवस्तुतिः — Hymn of Praise by the Devas

Devastuti

Devanagari script

त्वं परः प्रकृतेर्ब्रह्म पुरुषात्परमेश्वर । निर्गुणस्त्रिगुणाधारो ब्रह्मविष्णुहरात्मकः

Transliteration

tvaṃ paraḥ prakṛterbrahma puruṣātparameśvara | nirguṇastriguṇādhāro brahmaviṣṇuharātmakaḥ

Translation

ನೀನು ಪ್ರಕೃತಿಗೆ ಅತೀತನಾದ ಪರಬ್ರಹ್ಮ; ಓ ಪರಮೇಶ್ವರ, ನೀನು ಪುರುಷನಿಗಿಂತಲೂ ಪರ. ನೀನು ಸ್ವತಃ ನಿರ್ಗುಣನಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ ತ್ರಿಗುಣಗಳ ಆಧಾರ, ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ-ವಿಷ್ಣು-ಹರರ ಅಂತರ್ಯಾಮಿ ಸ್ವರೂಪವೇ ನೀನು.

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्गे (masc. by convention), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• परः: supreme
• परः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) त्वम् इति विशेष्यस्य

• प्रकृतेः: of Prakṛti (nature)
• प्रकृतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्रह्म: O Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुरुषात्: than the Puruṣa
• पुरुषात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative source; comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular)

• परमेश्वर: O Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (descriptive: परमः ईश्वरः), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• निर्गुणः: without qualities
• निर्गुणः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) त्वम् इति विशेष्यस्य

• त्रिगुणाधारः: support of the three guṇas
• त्रिगुणाधारः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + गुण + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa: त्रयाणां गुणानां आधारः), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्रह्मविष्णुहरात्मकः: having the nature of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Hara
• ब्रह्मविष्णुहरात्मकः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + विष्णु + हर + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: ब्रह्म-विष्णु-हर-आत्मकः = whose nature is Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Hara), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) त्वम् इति विशेष्यस्य

Speaker

A devotee/praiser addressing Lord Śiva (stuti within the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative, as relayed by Sūta to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Hara

FAQs

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

It proclaims Śiva as Pati—the Supreme Reality beyond both Prakṛti (nature) and Puruṣa—while also being the inner support that empowers all cosmic functions, guiding the seeker to liberation through devotion to the One Lord behind all forms.

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

The verse bridges nirguṇa and saguṇa: Śiva is beyond attributes, yet He becomes approachable through manifestations (including the Liṅga) and through His workings as Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Rudra—so Liṅga-worship is devotion to the transcendent made present.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the substratum of the three guṇas while japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) is performed; offer bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and maintain guṇa-transcending inner stillness, seeing all powers as resting in Parameśvara.