Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 51

विष्णोर्दर्शनं स्तुतिश्च

Viṣṇu’s Manifestation and Brahmā’s Hymn

Devanagari script

उपादिदेश त्वां शम्भुस्सृष्टिकार्यं तदा प्रभुः । तत्पालनं च मां ब्रह्मन् सोमस्सूतिकरोऽव्ययः

Transliteration

upādideśa tvāṃ śambhussṛṣṭikāryaṃ tadā prabhuḥ | tatpālanaṃ ca māṃ brahman somassūtikaro'vyayaḥ

Translation

ഹേ ബ്രഹ്മൻ, അപ്പോൾ പ്രഭു ശംഭു നിന്നെ സൃഷ്ടികാര്യത്തിൽ ഉപദേശിച്ചു; അതിന്റെ പാലനത്തിനായി എന്നെ നിയോഗിച്ചു. അവ്യയനായ സോമൻ പ്രാണരസത്തിന്റെ ജനകനും പോഷകനുമായി.

Word by Word

• उपादिदेश: instructed/commanded
• उपादिदेश: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-√दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थ: आदेशं दत्तवान्

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सृष्टि-कार्यम्: the task of creation
• सृष्टि-कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सृष्टेः कार्यम्)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शम्भोः विशेषणरूपेण

• तत्-पालनम्: its protection/maintenance
• तत्-पालनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पालन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (तस्य पालनम् = its maintenance)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (and)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (O Brahmā)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• सोमः: Soma
• सोमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सूतिः-करः: the one who causes birth/production
• सूतिः-करः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूति (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सूतिं करोति = one who effects/causes birth)

• अव्ययः: imperishable
• अव्ययः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Soma (Chandra)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: deva-niyoga (appointment of cosmic functions under Śambhu’s command)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Soma

FAQs

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

It establishes Śiva (Śambhu) as the supreme Pati who authorizes the cosmic offices—creation and preservation—showing that all divine powers function by His command, not independently.

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

The verse supports Saguna Śiva worship by portraying Śiva as the personal Lord who actively ordains the universe’s governance; Linga worship centers on this sovereign Lordship (aiśvarya) behind all cosmic processes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the inner ruler (antaryāmin) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering bhasma (tripuṇḍra) as a reminder that all roles and powers are sustained by Śiva alone.