Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 48

शङ्खचूडकस्य राज्याभिषेकः तथा शक्रपुरीं प्रति प्रस्थानम् | Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Coronation and March toward Indra’s City

Devanagari script

प्रकृतेः पुरुषस्यापि योधिष्ठाता त्रिशक्तिधृक् । निर्गुणस्सगुणस्सोपि परं ज्योतिः स्वरूपवान्

Transliteration

prakṛteḥ puruṣasyāpi yodhiṣṭhātā triśaktidhṛk | nirguṇassaguṇassopi paraṃ jyotiḥ svarūpavān

Translation

Dialah pengatur tertinggi bagi Prakṛti (Alam) dan Puruṣa (prinsip kesedaran individu), yang menanggung tiga Śakti. Walau melampaui sifat (nirguṇa), Dia juga menzahirkan sifat (saguṇa); hakikat-Nya ialah Cahaya Tertinggi yang transenden.

Word by Word

• prakṛteḥ: of Prakṛti (nature)
• prakṛteḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• puruṣasya: of Puruṣa (spirit/person)
• puruṣasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपि = also/even

• yodhiṣṭhātā: the presiding controller
• yodhiṣṭhātā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhi-√sthā (धातु) + tṛ (कृत्-प्रत्यय) with yodh- (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त-कर्तृवाचक (agent noun), ‘तृ’ (tṛ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘अधिष्ठाता’ (overseer/presiding lord)

• tri-śakti-dhṛk: holder of the three powers
• tri-śakti-dhṛk: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + dhṛ (धातु) + kvip (कृत्)
• Form: बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणवत्; प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘धृक्’ = धारणकर्ता (holder) कृदन्त (kvip)

• nirguṇaḥ: quality-less (nirguṇa)
• nirguṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); नञ्/निर्तत्पुरुष (without qualities)

• saguṇaḥ: with qualities (saguṇa)
• saguṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); तत्पुरुष (with qualities)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) सर्वनाम

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपि = also/even

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); विशेषण (qualifying jyotiḥ)

• jyotiḥ: light, radiance
• jyotiḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyotis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2nd/1st), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• svarūpavān: possessing (his) own true form
• svarūpavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva-rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + matup (तद्धित)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); मतुप्-प्रत्यय (possessive: ‘having one’s own form’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Philosophical darśana of Śiva as controller of prakṛti and puruṣa supports viveka and surrender, preparing the paśu for anugraha that removes pāśa (bondage).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who governs both Nature (Prakṛti) and the bound soul (Puruṣa), and whose true essence is the Supreme Light that grants liberation.

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

By affirming that the same Shiva is both nirguṇa and saguṇa, it supports Linga worship as a valid, compassionate manifestation through which devotees approach the transcendent Jyoti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as “paraṃ jyotiḥ” while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), using saguṇa supports like the Linga, bhasma (tripuṇḍra), and rudrākṣa to steady devotion and concentration.