Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1

मृत्युञ्जय-विद्या-प्रादुर्भावः

The Manifestation/Transmission of the Mṛtyuñjaya Vidyā

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । शृणु व्यास यथा प्राप्ता मृत्युप्रशमनी परा । विद्या काव्येन मुनिना शिवान्मृत्युञ्जयाभिधात्

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | śṛṇu vyāsa yathā prāptā mṛtyupraśamanī parā | vidyā kāvyena muninā śivānmṛtyuñjayābhidhāt

Translation

ସନତ୍କୁମାର କହିଲେ—ହେ ବ୍ୟାସ, ଶୁଣ; ମୃତ୍ୟୁକୁ ପ୍ରଶମିତ କରୁଥିବା ସେ ପରମ ବିଦ୍ୟା କିପରି ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ହେଲା। ମୁନି କାବ୍ୟ (ଶୁକ୍ର) ‘ମୃତ୍ୟୁଞ୍ଜୟ’ ନାମେ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ଶିବଙ୍କଠାରୁ ତାହା ଗ୍ରହଣ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; 3rd sg. perfect

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• व्यास: O Vyāsa
• व्यास: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• यथा: how/as
• यथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/उपमानबोधक-अव्यय; adverb/conjunction ‘how/as’

• प्राप्ता: obtained/attained
• प्राप्ता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agreeing with विद्या

• मृत्युप्रशमनी: that which pacifies death
• मृत्युप्रशमनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत्यु + प्रशमनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective to विद्या; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मृत्योः प्रशमनं करोति)

• परा: supreme
• परा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective to विद्या

• विद्या: knowledge/vidyā
• विद्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• काव्येन: by Kāvyā (Śukra) / by the poet (name)
• काव्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• मुनिना: by the sage
• मुनिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (apposition to काव्येन)

• शिवात्: from Śiva
• शिवात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular

• मृत्युञ्जयाभिधात्: was named ‘Mṛtyuñjaya’
• मृत्युञ्जयाभिधात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृत्युञ्जय + अभिधा (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (अनद्यतनभूत/Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; 3rd sg. aorist of अभि-धा ‘to name/call’ (sense: ‘was called Mṛtyuñjaya’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Mṛtyuñjaya-vidyā as a transmitted upadeśa (lineage of instruction), encouraging seekers to approach Śiva through guru-paramparā and disciplined practice.

Mantra Metadata

Type: mahamrityunjaya

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sanatkumara
• Vyasa
• Kavya (Shukra)
• Mrityunjaya

FAQs

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

It establishes that the power to transcend fear of death is rooted in Śiva’s grace: the “death-pacifying” supreme vidyā is not merely technique, but a revealed spiritual knowledge bestowed by Mṛtyuñjaya Śiva.

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

By naming Śiva as Mṛtyuñjaya, the verse points to Saguna worship—approaching Śiva with a specific salvific aspect. In Purāṇic practice, this is commonly centered on Linga worship with mantra-japa and offerings, seeking Śiva’s protective and liberating grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa of the Mṛtyuñjaya mantra/vidyā with steady devotion to Śiva (often before a Śiva-liṅga), supported by Shaiva disciplines such as vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and focused meditation on Śiva as the conqueror of death.