Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36

विदलोत्पलदैत्ययोरुत्पत्तिः देवपराजयः ब्रह्मोपदेशः नारदप्रेषणम्

Vidalotpala Daityas, Defeat of the Devas, Brahmā’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Mission

Devanagari script

इति तं वर्णितं तात चरितं परमाद्भुतम् । शिवयोर्भक्तवात्सल्यसूचकं शिवदं सताम्

Transliteration

iti taṃ varṇitaṃ tāta caritaṃ paramādbhutam | śivayorbhaktavātsalyasūcakaṃ śivadaṃ satām

Translation

ଏହିପରି, ହେ ତାତ, ସେହି ପରମାଦ୍ଭୁତ ଚରିତ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣିତ ହେଲା—ଯାହା ଶିବଙ୍କର ଭକ୍ତବାତ୍ସଲ୍ୟ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରେ ଏବଂ ସତ୍ମାନଙ୍କୁ ଶିବକୃପା ଓ ମଙ୍ଗଳ ଦାନ କରେ।

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Quotative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक निपात (‘thus’)

• तम्: that (it)
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वर्णितम्: described
• वर्णितम्: विशेषण (Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘described’ (agrees with चरितम्)

• तात: O dear one / O father
• तात: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• चरितम्: deed, narrative
• चरितम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; कर्तृपद (subject)

• परमाद्भुतम्: supremely wonderful
• परमाद्भुतम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; विशेषणम् (qualifies चरितम्)

• शिवयोः: of Śiva (and his consort)
• शिवयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन; ‘of the two Śivas’ (Śiva and Pārvatī)

• भक्तवात्सल्यसूचकम्: indicating affection toward devotees
• भक्तवात्सल्यसूचकम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त + वात्सल्य + सूचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (भक्तेषु वात्सल्यं सूचयति इति); विशेषणम् (qualifies चरितम्)

• शिवदम्: bestowing auspiciousness
• शिवदम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शिवं ददाति इति); विशेषणम् (qualifies चरितम्)

• सताम्: of the virtuous
• सताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; ‘of the good/virtuous’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Concluding colophon-like verse: the narrated episode is ‘paramādbhuta’ and explicitly identified as revealing bhakta-vātsalya and as ‘śivadam’—bestowing Śiva (auspiciousness/grace/liberation) to the virtuous.

Significance: Frames the entire chapter as a grace-bearing text; in Siddhānta terms, it points to anugraha as the decisive factor that converts narrative hearing into salvific benefit.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights bhakta-vātsalya—Śiva’s tender protection of devotees—and teaches that hearing/remembering such sacred episodes purifies the heart and draws Śiva’s anugraha (grace), leading the virtuous toward auspiciousness and liberation.

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

By praising Śiva’s compassionate dealings with devotees, it supports Saguna worship—approaching Śiva as a personal Lord who responds to bhakti. Such remembrance naturally culminates in reverence for Śiva’s presence in the Liṅga, the accessible form through which grace is received.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śravaṇa and smaraṇa (listening to and contemplating Śiva’s deeds) alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” as a devotion-centered discipline to invite Śiva’s auspicious grace (śivadāna).