Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37

युद्धप्रसङ्गः—देवगणयुद्धे शिवविष्णुसंयोगः / Battle Episode—Śiva–Viṣṇu Convergence in the Devas’ Conflict

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वाऽन्तर्हितस्तत्र नारद त्वं कलिप्रियः । अविकारी सदा शंभुर्मनोगतिकरो मुनिः

Transliteration

ityuktvā'ntarhitastatra nārada tvaṃ kalipriyaḥ | avikārī sadā śaṃbhurmanogatikaro muniḥ

Translation

ଏହିପରି କହି ସେ ସେଠାରେ ଅନ୍ତର୍ଧାନ ହେଲେ। “ହେ ନାରଦ, ତୁମେ କଳିଯୁଗର ପ୍ରିୟ।” ମୁନି କହିଲେ—“ଶମ୍ଭୁ ସଦା ନିର୍ବିକାର; ମନର ଗତି ପରି ଶୀଘ୍ର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରନ୍ତି।”

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-निपात (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having spoken
• उक्त्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having said’

• अन्तर्हितः: disappeared
• अन्तर्हितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर् + धा (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘disappeared/hidden’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (vocative), एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कलिप्रियः: dear to Kali
• कलिप्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कलि + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: कलि-प्रिय (dear to Kali/age of Kali)

• अविकारी: unchanging
• अविकारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविकारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मनोगतिकरः: swift as thought
• मनोगतिकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस् + गति + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: मनो-गति-कर (making the speed of mind / swift as thought)

• मुनिः: sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to शम्भुः

Speaker

Brahmā (narrating to Nārada in the Kumārakhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga reference (kali-priya efficacy)

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Shiva (Shambhu)
• Kali (Yuga)

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as avikārī—unchanging consciousness beyond all worldly transformations—yet fully capable of manifest action; remembering this steadies the seeker and turns the mind toward liberation (mokṣa).

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

The Liṅga symbolizes the changeless Śiva (avikārī) while allowing devotion through a visible form; the verse supports Saguna worship as a doorway to realizing Shiva’s Nirguna, immutable nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady dhyāna on Śambhu as changeless awareness; let thoughts move swiftly, but rest attention in the unmoving Lord.