Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11

नारदस्य विष्णूपदेशवर्णनम् — Nārada and Viṣṇu: Instruction after Delusion

Devanagari script

त्वद्गतिं सुसमाज्ञाय पश्चात्तापमवाप सः । विप्रं सर्वोपरि प्राह स्वोक्तवेद प्रमाणकृत्

Transliteration

tvadgatiṃ susamājñāya paścāttāpamavāpa saḥ | vipraṃ sarvopari prāha svoktaveda pramāṇakṛt

Translation

तुझी गति (महिमा) नीट समजल्यावर तो पश्चात्तापाने व्याकुळ झाला. स्वतः सांगितलेल्या वेद-प्रमाणाला मान देऊन, त्याने ब्राह्मणाला सर्वांपेक्षा श्रेष्ठ असे घोषित केले।

Word by Word

• त्वत्: of/from you
• त्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Abl./Gen. 5/6), एकवचन (sg.)

• गतिम्: course/way/state
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• सु: well
• सु: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: su (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (upasarga/adverbial prefix; ‘well’)

• समाज्ञाय: having understood
• समाज्ञाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam+ā+jñā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive) with āya-form: ‘having fully understood’

• पश्चात्तापम्: remorse/repentance
• पश्चात्तापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paścāt-tāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• अवाप: obtained/experienced
• अवाप: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava+āp (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• विप्रम्: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• सर्वोपरि: above all/over everyone
• सर्वोपरि: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + upari (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (indeclinable adverb)

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• स्वोक्तवेद: one whose authority is the Veda as spoken by himself / self-uttered Veda (epithet)
• स्वोक्तवेद: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वेन उक्तः वेदः’ / ‘स्वोक्तः वेदः’ (as a qualifier to the agent)

• प्रमाणकृत्: establisher of authority/one who makes (it) a proof
• प्रमाणकृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛt (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); उपपद-तत्पुरुष/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘प्रमाणं करोति’ (one who makes/establishes as authority)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Brāhmaṇa
• Veda

FAQs

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

It teaches that true understanding of the divine order corrects error: remorse arises, and one returns to dharma by honoring Vedic authority and those who embody it. In Shaiva thought, this supports right conduct (ācāra) as a foundation for devotion and liberation.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is repeatedly framed as Veda-consistent and guided by qualified teachers. By declaring the vipra ‘above all’ under Vedic pramāṇa, the narrative implies that proper Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-pūjā) should follow scriptural injunctions and be learned from the dharmic tradition.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is scripturally aligned practice: approach a learned brāhmaṇa/guru, follow Vedic-Śaiva injunctions, and stabilize devotion through regular mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with repentance and correction of conduct.