Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

शृणु नाथ महेशान मार्गिता यादृशी त्वया । निवेदयामि सुप्रीत्या तां स्त्रियं तादृशीं प्रभो

Transliteration

śṛṇu nātha maheśāna mārgitā yādṛśī tvayā | nivedayāmi suprītyā tāṃ striyaṃ tādṛśīṃ prabho

Translation

ഹേ നാഥാ, ഹേ മഹേശാനാ! കേൾക്കുക—നീ അന്വേഷിച്ചതുപോലെയുള്ള ആ സ്ത്രീയെക്കുറിച്ച് ഞാൻ അത്യന്തം പ്രീതിയോടെ നിനക്കു നിവേദിക്കുന്നു, പ്രഭോ.

Word by Word

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्, Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• nātha: O Lord
• nātha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• maheśāna: O Great Lord (Maheśāna)
• maheśāna: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: mahān īśānaḥ

• mārgitā: sought/asked for
• mārgitā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa / Predicate (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mārg (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective for sā (she) understood

• yādṛśī: such as/what kind (as)
• yādṛśī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yādṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• nivedayāmi: I inform/submit
• nivedayāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + vid (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• suprītyā: with great affection/pleasure
• suprītyā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial instrumental

• tām: her/that (woman)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• striyam: woman
• striyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tādṛśīm: of that kind/such
• tādṛśīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tādṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with striyam

• prabho: O Lord
• prabho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sati (addressing Lord Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

It shows the devotee’s loving, reverent speech to Pati (Shiva): the truth is offered not as argument but as humble submission (nivedana) filled with devotion (suprīti).

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

The address “Nātha, Maheśāna, Prabho” reflects Saguna-upāsanā—approaching Shiva as the personal Lord who listens and responds, the same devotional mood used in Linga worship through prayers and offerings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice bhakti-filled nivedana: after japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” verbally offer your intention and request to Shiva with humility and joy, as Sati does here.