Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 48

Devanagari script

वर्णावर्णविभागोऽयं तस्मान्न प्रतिभासते । अतो भेदो न मंतव्यो मानुष्ये केनचित्क्वचित्

Transliteration

varṇāvarṇavibhāgo'yaṃ tasmānna pratibhāsate | ato bhedo na maṃtavyo mānuṣye kenacitkvacit

Translation

ດັ່ງນັ້ນ ການແບ່ງແຍກເປັນ “ວັນນະ” ແລະ “ບໍ່ແມ່ນວັນນະ” ບໍ່ປາກົດແຈ້ງເປັນສັດຈະສູງສຸດ. ເພາະສະນັ້ນ ບໍ່ຄວນໃຫ້ໃຜໆ ຄິດຫຼືບັງຄັບຄວາມແຕກຕ່າງໃດໆ ໃນມະນຸດ ບ່ອນໃດກໍຕາມ.

Word by Word

• varṇa-avarṇa-vibhāgaḥ: the division of (varṇa and non-varṇa)/classification
• varṇa-avarṇa-vibhāgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + avarṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (varṇa + avarṇa) तत्पुरुष-समास (…-विभागः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• tasmāt: therefore/from that
• tasmāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (therefore/from that)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• pratibhāsate: appears/seems
• pratibhāsate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-bhās (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/तस्मात्-अर्थक (therefore)

• bhedaḥ: difference
• bhedaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• mantavyaḥ: should be considered
• mantavyaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय (to be thought/considered)

• mānuṣye: in a human (being)/among humans
• mānuṣye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānuṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• kenacit: by anyone
• kenacit: Karaṇa/Kartṛ (करण/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थ (indefinite: by anyone)

• kvacit: anywhere/ever
• kvacit: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (somewhere/ever)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that social labels are not ultimate truths; from a Shaiva view, the same Shiva-nature (Pati) underlies all beings, so discrimination obstructs dharma and inner purity needed for liberation.

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

Linga-worship centers on Shiva as the universal reality accessible to all; this verse supports the Shaiva principle that devotion and sincerity—not birth-based divisions—qualify one for worship and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a non-discriminatory mind, honoring all devotees equally; such inner equality is itself a form of worship aligned with bhasma-dharana and Shiva-bhakti.