Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

रुद्र-विष्णोः ऐकत्व-उपदेशः तथा धर्म-आज्ञा

Instruction on Rudra–Viṣṇu Unity and Divine Injunctions

Devanagari script

निःश्वासोच्छ्वसितानां च सर्वेषामेव देहिनाम् । ब्रह्मविष्णुहराणां च गंधर्वोरगरक्षसाम्

Transliteration

niḥśvāsocchvasitānāṃ ca sarveṣāmeva dehinām | brahmaviṣṇuharāṇāṃ ca gaṃdharvoragarakṣasām

Translation

എല്ലാ ദേഹികളുടെയും നിശ്വാസ-ഉച്ഛ്വാസങ്ങൾ, ബ്രഹ്മാവിന്റെയും വിഷ്ണുവിന്റെയും ഹരൻ (ശിവൻ) ന്റെയും; അതുപോലെ ഗന്ധർവ, ഉറഗ (നാഗ), രാക്ഷസന്മാരുടെയും—(എല്ലാം പരമേശ്വരന്റെ ആജ്ഞാശക്തിയാൽ നടക്കുന്നു).

Word by Word

• निःश्वास-उच्छ्वसितानाम्: of exhalations and inhalations (breaths)
• निःश्वास-उच्छ्वसितानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निःश्वास (प्रातिपदिक) + उच्छ्वसित (कृदन्त; √श्वस् धातु)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (collective sense). द्वन्द्वसमासः; ‘निःश्वास’ (exhalation) + ‘उच्छ्वसित’ (inhalation/breathing)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• देहिनाम्: of embodied beings
• देहिनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग

• ब्रह्म-विष्णु-हराणाम्: of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Hara
• ब्रह्म-विष्णु-हराणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग. द्वन्द्वसमासः (copulative): Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Hara

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गन्धर्व-उरग-रक्षसाम्: of Gandharvas, serpents, and Rākṣasas
• गन्धर्व-उरग-रक्षसाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + उरग (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग. द्वन्द्वसमासः: Gandharvas, serpents, and Rākṣasas

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā’s creation account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: All beings’ respiration—including deities—subsumed under a single supreme ordinance (niyati)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares Śiva’s all-pervading lordship: even the basic life-process of breath in every being—high or low, divine or earthly—operates under the Supreme (Pati), showing that prāṇa is not independent but sustained by Śiva’s śakti.

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

The Liṅga signifies the formless, all-supporting reality of Śiva; this verse echoes that teaching by showing His presence as the unseen support behind breath and life in all beings, including cosmic deities—hence Liṅga worship trains the devotee to perceive that subtle pervasion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Breath-aware japa is suggested: mentally repeat the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) synchronized with inhalation and exhalation, contemplating that prāṇa moves by Śiva’s grace and returns to Him.