Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 50

दुन्दुभिनिर्ह्रादनिर्णयः / Dundubhinirhrāda’s Stratagem: Targeting the Brāhmaṇas

Devanagari script

परं भक्तिप्रदं धन्यं शिवप्रीतिकरं शिवम् । परमज्ञानदं रम्यं विकारहरणं परम्

Transliteration

paraṃ bhaktipradaṃ dhanyaṃ śivaprītikaraṃ śivam | paramajñānadaṃ ramyaṃ vikāraharaṇaṃ param

Translation

ആ പരമ ശിവൻ ധന്യൻ—പരമഭക്തി നൽകുന്നവൻ, ശിവപ്രീതികരൻ. അവൻ പരമജ്ഞാനം ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നു, അത്യന്തം രമണീയൻ, അന്തർവികാരങ്ങളും മലിനതകളും പരമമായി ഹരിക്കുന്നവൻ.

Word by Word

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• bhakti-pradam: bestowing devotion
• bhakti-pradam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (प्रद = ‘giver’)

• dhanyam: blessed / auspicious
• dhanyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhanya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• śiva-prīti-karam: causing Śiva’s pleasure
• śiva-prīti-karam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + prīti (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (कर = ‘maker’)

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• parama-jñāna-dam: giving supreme knowledge
• parama-jñāna-dam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (द = ‘giver’)

• ramyam: delightful / beautiful
• ramyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• vikāra-haraṇam: removing distortions/defects
• vikāra-haraṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikāra (प्रातिपदिक) + haraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद: ‘removal of changes/defects’)

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it is a doctrinal praise: Śiva as giver of bhakti and parama-jñāna, and remover of vikāras (mala/kleśa-like impurities).

Significance: Positions Śiva as the direct source of devotion and liberating knowledge; pilgrimage benefit is interiorized as purification (vikāra-haraṇa) culminating in grace (anugraha).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It praises Śiva as the Supreme (Pati) who both awakens mature bhakti and grants para-jñāna, removing vikāras—inner impurities and mental distortions that obstruct liberation.

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

By affirming that devotion which pleases Śiva leads to highest knowledge, it supports Saguna worship—such as Liṅga-pūjā—as a purifying path where grace culminates in realization of Śiva’s supreme nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate bhakti that “pleases Śiva” through steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and daily Śiva-upāsanā (e.g., Liṅga-abhiṣeka), aiming at purification of vikāras and rise of para-jñāna.