Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

देवस्तुतिः — Hymn of Praise by the Devas

Devastuti

Devanagari script

तथा शुचिव्रतं विप्रमदरिद्रं महाप्रभो । त्वद्भक्तिवर्तिनं मात्रा ज्ञानिनं कृपयाऽकरोः

Transliteration

tathā śucivrataṃ vipramadaridraṃ mahāprabho | tvadbhaktivartinaṃ mātrā jñāninaṃ kṛpayā'karoḥ

Translation

ସେହିପରି, ହେ ମହାପ୍ରଭୋ! କୃପାବଶତଃ ଆପଣ ଶୁଚିବ୍ରତ ସେହି ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଙ୍କୁ ଦାରିଦ୍ର୍ୟରୁ ମୁକ୍ତ କଲେ। ଆପଣଙ୍କ ଅନୁଗ୍ରହରେ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଆପଣଙ୍କ ଭକ୍ତିରେ ଦୃଢ଼ କରି ସତ୍ୟଜ୍ଞାନୀ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• tathā: likewise, thus
• tathā: Particle/Adverb (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus/likewise)

• śuci-vratam: of pure vows
• śuci-vratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (शुचि च तत् व्रतम्/शुचिव्रतः)

• vipram: a brāhmaṇa
• vipram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• adaridram: not poor, free from poverty
• adaridram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-daridra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; नञ्-समासभावः (a- + daridra)

• mahāprabho: O great lord
• mahāprabho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahāprabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् प्रभुः)

• tvad-bhakti-vartinam: abiding in devotion to you
• tvad-bhakti-vartinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम-आधार) + bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + vartin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (त्वद्भक्तौ वर्तते इति/त्वद्भक्तिवर्ती)

• mātrā: by measure / to the extent
• mātrā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; 'by/through measure' (adverbial instrumental)

• jñāninam: a knower, wise man
• jñāninam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• kṛpayā: with compassion
• kṛpayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• akaroḥ: you made, you rendered
• akaroḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/Imperfect), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; अ-आगम (augment)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s anugraha (grace): He removes outer suffering (poverty) and, more importantly, grants inner transformation—steadfast bhakti and jñāna—leading the soul toward liberation in a Shaiva Siddhanta sense (release from pāśa through Pati’s grace).

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

It supports Saguna Shiva worship by emphasizing a personal Lord who responds to devotion: through bhakti directed to Shiva (often expressed via Liṅga-pūjā), the devotee is elevated into jñāna and well-being by Shiva’s compassionate intervention.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śuci-vrata (pure observances) joined with Shiva-bhakti—such as daily Liṅga worship, japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and maintaining purity and restraint—so that Shiva’s grace matures into spiritual knowledge.