Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

नारदप्रश्नवर्णन (Nāradapraśna-varṇana) — “Account of Nārada’s Inquiry”

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मलोकं जगामाथ शिवस्मरणसन्मतिः । शिवतत्त्वं विशेषेण ज्ञातुमिच्छुस्स नारदः

Transliteration

brahmalokaṃ jagāmātha śivasmaraṇasanmatiḥ | śivatattvaṃ viśeṣeṇa jñātumicchussa nāradaḥ

Translation

Então Nārada—com a mente firmemente inclinada à lembrança de Śiva—foi a Brahmaloka, desejando conhecer, de modo especial e preciso, o verdadeiro princípio (tattva) de Śiva.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्म-लोकम्: to Brahmaloka
• ब्रह्म-लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—ब्रह्मणः लोकः (world of Brahmā)

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक-निपात (then/now)

• शिव-स्मरण-सन्मतिः: one devotedly resolved on remembering Śiva
• शिव-स्मरण-सन्मतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मरण (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—शिवस्य स्मरणे सन्मतिः (one whose good resolve is in remembering Śiva)

• शिव-तत्त्वम्: the principle/reality of Śiva
• शिव-तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—शिवस्य तत्त्वम्

• विशेषेण: especially; in particular
• विशेषेण: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभाव (क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः); प्रकारवाचक (especially)

• ज्ञातुम्: to know
• ज्ञातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), उद्देश्य/प्रयोजनार्थ (in order to know)

• इच्छुः: desiring; wishing
• इच्छुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु) → इच्छु (प्रातिपदिक-कृदन्त)
• Form: उ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (desiderative adjective), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Narada
• Brahma
• Brahmaloka

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva-smaraṇa (steady remembrance of Śiva) as the inner qualification for receiving higher knowledge—Śiva-tattva—leading the seeker toward liberation through the grace-oriented Shaiva path.

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

Although the verse speaks of Śiva-tattva (ultimate reality), it frames the approach through devotion and remembrance—typical of Saguna upāsanā (such as Liṅga-worship) that matures into insight into Śiva’s supreme principle.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is sustained Śiva-smaraṇa—practically supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), along with traditional aids like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa to stabilize devotion and contemplation.