Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 64

गिरिजातपः-परीक्षा तथा सप्तर्षि-आह्वानम्

Girijā’s Austerity-Test and the Summoning of the Seven Sages

Devanagari script

शिवो ब्रह्माविकारः स भक्तहेतोर्धृताकृतिः । प्रभुतां लौकिकीं नैव संदर्शयितुमिच्छति

Transliteration

śivo brahmāvikāraḥ sa bhaktahetordhṛtākṛtiḥ | prabhutāṃ laukikīṃ naiva saṃdarśayitumicchati

Translation

ଶିବ ବ୍ରହ୍ମାଙ୍କ ବିକାରଜନ୍ୟ ନୁହେଁ; ଭକ୍ତମାନଙ୍କ ହେତୁ ସେ ପ୍ରକଟ ରୂପ ଧାରଣ କରନ୍ତି। ତଥାପି କେବଳ ଲୌକିକ ପ୍ରଭୁତ୍ୱ କିମ୍ବା ଶକ୍ତି ଦେଖାଇବାକୁ ଇଚ୍ଛା କରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ब्रह्म-अविकारः: unchanging (in relation to) Brahman; without modification
• ब्रह्म-अविकारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अविकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः अविकारः = unchanged with respect to Brahman / without modification)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भक्त-हेतोः: for the sake of devotees
• भक्त-हेतोः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause-purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भक्तानां हेतुḥ / भक्तहेतु = for the sake of devotees)

• धृत-आकृतिः: one who has assumed a form
• धृत-आकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभावः (धृता आकृतिः = assumed form)

• प्रभुताम्: lordship; sovereignty
• प्रभुताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• लौकिकीम्: worldly
• लौकिकीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लौकिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying प्रभुताम्)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• एव: indeed; at all
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic/only)

• संदर्शयितुम्: to show; to display
• संदर्शयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + दृश् (धातु) + णिच् + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (Infinitive), हेत्वर्थ/उद्देश्य (purpose)

• इच्छति: wishes
• इच्छति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse asserts Śiva’s transcendence over created categories while allowing compassionate self-manifestation for devotees.

Significance: Frames darśana of Śiva’s manifest forms as an act of grace rather than worldly display; encourages bhakti without expecting mundane boons.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva is transcendent—beyond created categories—yet out of compassion He becomes accessible in a form for devotees, without being motivated by worldly domination.

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

It supports Saguna worship (Linga, mūrti, mantra) as Śiva’s grace-filled self-manifestation for bhaktas, while affirming that His true nature remains beyond material, worldly power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Emphasize devotion-centered upāsanā—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Linga-pūjā—seeking Śiva’s grace and liberation rather than worldly displays of power.