Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

विष्णूत्पत्तिवर्णनम्

Description of the Origin/Manifestation of Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

अमूर्ते यत्पराख्यं वै तस्य मूर्तिस्सदाशिवः । अर्वाचीनाः पराचीना ईश्वरं तं जगुर्बुधाः

Transliteration

amūrte yatparākhyaṃ vai tasya mūrtissadāśivaḥ | arvācīnāḥ parācīnā īśvaraṃ taṃ jagurbudhāḥ

Translation

Yang dalam keadaan tanpa rupa disebut Parā, Yang Tertinggi—wujud nyata-Nya ialah Sadāśiva. Para bijaksana, sama ada memandang ke luar (duniawi) atau ke dalam (melampaui), mengisytiharkan Dia sebagai Īśvara, Tuhan Penguasa.

Word by Word

• अमूर्ते: in the formless (principle)
• अमूर्ते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन; ‘अमूर्ते (तत्त्वे)’

• यत्: which
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative correlate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• पराख्यम्: called ‘Parā’
• पराख्यम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (named ‘parā’)

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• तस्य: of that
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन

• मूर्तिः: the form
• मूर्तिः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन

• सदा-शिवः: Sadāśiva
• सदा-शिवः: कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण (Predicate of subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदा (अव्यय) + शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सदा शिवः = ever-auspicious) / नामरूपेण

• अर्वाचीनाः: the later/nearer (schools/thinkers)
• अर्वाचीनाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्वाचीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (those oriented ‘this-side’/lower)

• पराचीनाḥ: the earlier/farther (schools/thinkers)
• पराचीनाḥ: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराचीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (those oriented ‘beyond’/higher)

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• तम्: that (one)
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; ईश्वरम् इत्यस्य विशेषण/अन्वय

• जगुः: declared, sang of
• जगुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• बुधाः: the wise
• बुधाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sadashiva
• Ishvara

FAQs

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

It teaches that the transcendent, formless Supreme is not opposed to manifestation—He is known as Sadāśiva in a form that can be approached, while remaining the highest Reality. Thus, both contemplatives and devotional worshippers can reach the same Lord.

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

By affirming Sadāśiva as the manifest expression of the Supreme, the verse supports saguna-upāsanā—worship through form such as the Śiva-liṅga—while recognizing that the worshipped Lord is ultimately beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to unite inner meditation on the formless Shiva-tattva with outer worship of Sadāśiva—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and liṅga-pūjā—seeing both as one path to Īśvara.