Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 56

सतीचरिते पितृगृहे आशीर्वाद-वचनम् तथा यौवनारम्भः — Satī at her father’s house: blessings and the onset of youth

Devanagari script

एकांतिनः कंचनार्थं भक्ता वांछंति यस्य न । केवलं चरितं ते ते गायंति परमंगलम्

Transliteration

ekāṃtinaḥ kaṃcanārthaṃ bhaktā vāṃchaṃti yasya na | kevalaṃ caritaṃ te te gāyaṃti paramaṃgalam

Translation

ഏകാന്തഭക്തർ സ്വർണമോ ലോകലാഭമോ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നില്ല; അവർ അവന്റെ പരമമംഗളമായ ചരിതം മാത്രമേ പാടുകയുള്ളൂ.

Word by Word

• एकान्तिनः: exclusive devotees
• एकान्तिनः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकान्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• कञ्चनार्थम्: wealth (gold)
• कञ्चनार्थम्: Karma (कर्म/object sought)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कञ्चन + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कञ्चनस्य अर्थः) (Accusative singular; ‘for gold/wealth’)

• भक्ताः: devotees
• भक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• वाञ्छन्ति: desire
• वाञ्छन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वाञ्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (Present Indicative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person plural)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/whose)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन (Genitive, Singular; relative pronoun)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• केवलम्: only
• केवलम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (Neuter, Acc, Sg; used adverbially ‘only’)

• चरितम्: deeds, conduct
• चरितम्: Karma (कर्म/object sung)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• ते: those (indeed)
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/subject, emphatic)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति-बल (repetition for emphasis)

• गायन्ति: sing, praise
• गायन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (Present Indicative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person plural)

• परमङ्गलम्: supremely auspicious
• परमङ्गलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (Neuter, Acc, Sg; ‘supremely auspicious’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya within the Rudrasaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Defines the mark of ekānta-bhakti: devotion free from kāñcana (wealth) and laukika-phala; such purity is said to attract Śiva’s anugraha (grace) rather than transactional boons.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It praises ekānta-bhakti—devotion directed solely to Śiva—free from material motives like wealth. Such purity of intention makes Śiva-kathā (singing His deeds) a direct means to inner purification and liberation-oriented grace.

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

Singing Śiva’s auspicious deeds is a form of saguna-upāsanā (devotion to Śiva with attributes), often performed alongside Liṅga worship. The verse emphasizes motive: worship is not for gain, but for loving remembrance and surrender to Pati (Śiva), the bestower of grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular kīrtana/paṭhana of Śiva-carita (Śiva-kathā) with a desireless mind—ideally paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—is implied as the practical takeaway.