Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा मुनिवचो विष्णुस्समदं कारणं ततः । ज्ञातवानखिलं स्मृत्वा शिवपादाम्बुजं हृदि

Transliteration

śrutvā munivaco viṣṇussamadaṃ kāraṇaṃ tataḥ | jñātavānakhilaṃ smṛtvā śivapādāmbujaṃ hṛdi

Translation

മുനിയുടെ വചനങ്ങൾ കേട്ട വിഷ്ണു ആ മദത്തിന്റെ യഥാർത്ഥ കാരണമറിഞ്ഞു; ഹൃദയത്തിൽ ശിവപാദപദ്മം സ്മരിച്ചു എല്ലാം അറിഞ്ഞു।

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund): having heard

• मुनि-वचः: the sage’s words
• मुनि-वचः: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुनेः वचः)

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• समदम्: arrogant
• समदम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying कारणम्): ‘arrogant/prideful’

• कारणम्: the cause/reason
• कारणम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: काल-क्रियाविशेषण (Temporal adverbial/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): then/thereupon/from that

• ज्ञातवान्: came to know
• ज्ञातवान्: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु (perfect participle/agentive past), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि: ‘having known/knowing’

• अखिलम्: everything
• अखिलम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (object of ज्ञातवान्)

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund): having remembered

• शिव-पाद-अम्बुजम्: Shiva’s lotus-feet
• शिव-पाद-अम्बुजम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य पादाम्बुजम्)

• हृदि: in (his) heart
• हृदि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Sage (Muni)

FAQs

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

It teaches that true knowledge of the ultimate cause becomes clear when the mind turns inward in devotion—remembering Śiva, the Pati, in the heart; devotion and right understanding mature together.

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

Remembering Śiva’s lotus-feet is a Saguna focus that steadies the mind; in Shiva Purana practice, such heartfelt remembrance supports Linga-worship by anchoring awareness in Śiva as the supreme cause behind creation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is hṛdaya-smaraṇa—silent remembrance of Śiva in the heart—often paired with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to stabilize devotion and insight.