Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 77

सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering

Devanagari script

भेदे निवृत्ते सकले द्वंद्वदुःखविहीनता । द्वंद्वदुःखविहीनस्तु शिवरूपो भवत्यसौ

Transliteration

bhede nivṛtte sakale dvaṃdvaduḥkhavihīnatā | dvaṃdvaduḥkhavihīnastu śivarūpo bhavatyasau

Translation

ഭേദബോധം പൂർണ്ണമായി നിവൃത്തിയായാൽ, ദ്വന്ദ്വങ്ങളിൽ നിന്നുള്ള ദുഃഖം ഇല്ലാതാകും. ദ്വന്ദ്വദുഃഖരഹിതൻ ശിവസ്വരൂപനായിത്തീരും।

Word by Word

• भेदे: when/with difference (duality)
• भेदे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन

• निवृत्ते: having ceased
• निवृत्ते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-वृत् (धातु) → निवृत्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/भावे कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; locative absolute with भेदे

• सकले: entirely
• सकले: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; qualifies भेदे (in the whole/entirely)

• द्वन्द्व-दुःख-विहीनता: freedom from the suffering of dualities
• द्वन्द्व-दुःख-विहीनता: Karta (कर्ता) (of implied ‘bhavati’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वन्द्व + दुःख + विहीनता (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): ‘state of being free from the pain of pairs of opposites’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• द्वन्द्व-दुःख-विहीनः: free from dualistic suffering
• द्वन्द्व-दुःख-विहीनः: Karta (कर्ता) (as predicate adjective of असौ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वन्द्व + दुःख + विहीन (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘free from the suffering of dualities’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle)

• शिव-रूपः: Śiva-natured
• शिव-रूपः: Karta (कर्ता) (as predicate adjective of असौ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + रूप (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘having the form/nature of Śiva’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भवति: becomes
• भवति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; parasmaipada

• असौ: he/that one
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun ‘that person/he’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it states the soteriological fruit: cessation of bheda yields freedom from dvandva-duḥkha and ‘Śiva-rūpatā’ (becoming Śiva-like).

Significance: Defines the highest pilgrimage as transformation of the paśu into Śiva-svarūpa by removal of pāśa (duality and its sorrow).

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation arises when the mind’s perception of separateness (bheda) ceases; then the devotee is no longer shaken by pairs of opposites (pleasure–pain, gain–loss) and abides in Śiva-consciousness.

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

Linga-worship trains the mind to move from outward distinctions to the one Reality symbolized by the Linga; through devotion to Saguna Śiva (with form), the seeker becomes steady and gradually realizes the non-dual Śiva-nature beyond dvandvas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with meditative equanimity—observing dualities without attachment—supports the withdrawal from bheda; Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa may be used as aids to steadiness and remembrance of Śiva.