Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 52

सतीकृतप्रार्थना तथा परतत्त्वजिज्ञासा — Satī’s Prayer and Inquiry into the Supreme Principle

Devanagari script

सेतिहासकथं तेषां भक्तमाहात्म्यमेव च । सवर्णाश्रमधर्मांश्च नृपधर्मान् मुनीश्वर

Transliteration

setihāsakathaṃ teṣāṃ bhaktamāhātmyameva ca | savarṇāśramadharmāṃśca nṛpadharmān munīśvara

Translation

ହେ ମୁନୀଶ୍ୱର! ଏଥିରେ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ସହ ସଂପୃକ୍ତ ପବିତ୍ର ଇତିହାସକଥା, ଭକ୍ତିର ମାହାତ୍ମ୍ୟ, ବର୍ଣ୍ଣାଶ୍ରମଧର୍ମ ଓ ରାଜଧର୍ମର ନ୍ୟାୟଯୁକ୍ତ କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ ମଧ୍ୟ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣିତ।

Word by Word

• स: that
• स: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• इतिहास-कथाम्: the narrative of history/legend
• इतिहास-कथाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतिहास (प्रातिपदिक) + कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• भक्त-माहात्म्यम्: the greatness of devotion/devotees
• भक्त-माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स-वर्ण-आश्रम-धर्मान्: the duties of the varṇas and āśramas
• स-वर्ण-आश्रम-धर्मान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; समाहार/निर्देशार्थ-तत्पुरुष (varṇa-āśrama-dharmas)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नृप-धर्मान्: the duties of kings
• नृप-धर्मान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• मुनीश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनीश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

It frames the Shiva Purana as a complete Shaiva guide: devotion (bhakti) is praised, while dharma—social, personal, and royal—is upheld as the supportive framework that purifies the soul and steadies it toward Shiva.

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

By highlighting bhakta-māhātmya, it points to the Purana’s emphasis that Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga worship) becomes fruitful when grounded in disciplined dharma and sincere devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse does not prescribe a specific rite; its takeaway is to align one’s devotional life with dharma—supporting regular Shiva-bhakti (such as mantra-japa and pūjā) through righteous conduct.