Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 51

दक्षयज्ञे सत्या अपमानबोधः — Satī Encounters Disrespect at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

किंवा शिवाख्यमशिवं त्वदन्ये न विदुर्बुधाः । ब्रह्मादयस्तं मुनयस्सनकाद्यास्तथापरे

Transliteration

kiṃvā śivākhyamaśivaṃ tvadanye na vidurbudhāḥ | brahmādayastaṃ munayassanakādyāstathāpare

Translation

Или же, кроме Тебя, даже мудрецы не знают истинно Того, кого зовут Шивой, — Того, кто превыше всего неблагого. Брахма и другие боги, мудрецы и даже Санака и остальные также (не знают Его в полной мере).

Word by Word

• किम्: why? / what?
• किम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय (interrogative particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive/alternative particle)

• शिवाख्यम्: named ‘Śiva’
• शिवाख्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (शिव इति आख्या यस्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of अशिवम्)

• अशिवम्: inauspiciousness / the non-auspicious (one)
• अशिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• त्वत्: than you / from you
• त्वत्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• विदुः: know
• विदुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• बुधाः: the wise
• बुधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मादयः: Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्मादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (ब्रह्मा आदिः येषाम्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सनकाद्याः: Sanaka and others
• सनकाद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनक + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (सनकः आदिः येषाम्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

• अपरे: others (also)
• अपरे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sati (addressing Lord Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes Śiva’s transcendence beyond full comprehension even by Brahmā, devas, and ṛṣis; encourages humility and reliance on Śiva’s revelation/grace rather than mere intellect.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Sanaka

FAQs

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

It declares Śiva as the supreme Pati (Lord) whose true nature transcends ordinary knowledge—so much so that even Brahmā and exalted sages cannot grasp Him fully; only grace-filled devotion and right understanding lead toward liberation.

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

By stating that Shiva is beyond full conceptual knowing, the verse supports approaching Him through accessible sacred forms—especially the Śiva-liṅga—where the transcendent (nirguṇa) is worshipped through a manifest focus (saguṇa) for steadiness of bhakti and dhyāna.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with contemplative bhāva that Śiva is ‘aśiva’—beyond all inauspiciousness—supported by Śaiva marks like tripuṇḍra-bhasma and rudrākṣa as aids to remembrance.