Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29

देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras

Devanagari script

युवां सुरविशिष्टौ हि त्रिभव स्वामिनौ किल । कथनं वां गरिष्ठेति भवकार्यरतात्मनोः

Transliteration

yuvāṃ suraviśiṣṭau hi tribhava svāminau kila | kathanaṃ vāṃ gariṣṭheti bhavakāryaratātmanoḥ

Translation

നിങ്ങൾ ഇരുവരും ദേവന്മാരിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠരും സത്യത്തിൽ ത്രിഭുവനത്തിന്റെ അധിപതികളും ആകുന്നു. അതിനാൽ ലോകക്രമത്തിന്റെ പ്രവർത്തിയിൽ നിരതമായ നിങ്ങളുടെ ഉപദേശം അത്യന്തം ഭാരവത്തും പ്രാമാണികവും ആണ്।

Word by Word

• युवाम्: you two
• युवाम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• सुर-विशिष्टौ: excellent among the gods
• सुर-विशिष्टौ: Karta-modifier (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुर + विशिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘distinguished among gods’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipata-artha (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• त्रिभव: O Tribhava
• त्रिभव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (सम्बोधन: ‘O Tri-bhava/three-world-being’)

• स्वामिनौ: lords, masters
• स्वामिनौ: Karta-predicate (कर्तृ-विशेष्य/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• किल: indeed, as is said
• किल: Nipata-artha (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (reportive/emphatic)

• कथनम्: speech, statement
• कथनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वाम्: of you two / to you two
• वाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Genitive/Dative), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• गरिष्ठा: most important
• गरिष्ठा: Karta-predicate (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गरिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; अतिशय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (superlative: ‘most weighty/most important’)

• इति: thus
• इति: Quotation marker (इत्यर्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्ति-निपात

• भव-कार्य-रत-आत्मनोः: of the two whose minds are devoted to Bhava’s task
• भव-कार्य-रत-आत्मनोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भव + कार्य + रत + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (‘whose selves are engaged in Bhava’s work’); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

Speaker

Satī (inferred from Sati-khaṇḍa dialogue context, addressing Brahmā and Viṣṇu as the two lords of the three worlds)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse acknowledges cosmic stewardship (governance of the three worlds) and teaches that divinely aligned counsel carries spiritual weight when it supports dharma and the right ordering of life—preparing the ground for devotion to Pati (Śiva) beyond worldly functions.

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

By honoring the roles of Brahmā and Viṣṇu in worldly maintenance, the text implicitly contrasts functional cosmic authority with Śiva’s supreme lordship; Saguna Śiva (as Liṅga) is worshipped as the transcendent source whom even the rulers of the worlds ultimately serve.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to seek ‘garīṣṭha’ guidance—recite the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steadiness and take counsel from dharmic scripture and teachers before major vows, pūjā, or vrata observances.