Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

शङ्खचूडदूतागमनम् — The Arrival of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Envoy

and Praise of Śiva

Devanagari script

महादेव उवाच । शृणु दूत महाप्राज्ञ वचो मम सुखावहम् । कथनीयमिदं तस्मै निर्विवादं विचार्य च

Transliteration

mahādeva uvāca | śṛṇu dūta mahāprājña vaco mama sukhāvaham | kathanīyamidaṃ tasmai nirvivādaṃ vicārya ca

Translation

महादेव उवाच—शृणु दूत महाप्राज्ञ वचो मम सुखावहम्। कथनीयमिदं तस्मै निर्विवादं विचार्य च॥

Word by Word

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• दूत: O messenger
• दूत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• महाप्राज्ञ: O very wise one
• महाप्राज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाप्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) of दूत

• वचः: words/speech
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• सुखावहम्: bringing happiness
• सुखावहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख + आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) of वचः

• कथनीयम्: to be told; should be said
• कथनीयम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + अनीयर् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय (predicative) with इदम्

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• निर्विवादम्: without dispute; undisputedly
• निर्विवादम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + विवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbially) with विचार्य

• विचार्य: having considered
• विचार्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + चर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having considered’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Mahadeva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s siddhānta-like discipline of speech: truth should be conveyed with viveka (discernment) and in a way that reduces conflict, supporting peace, dharma, and spiritual upliftment.

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

Saguna Śiva is worshipped not only through offerings to the Liṅga but also by embodying His qualities—calm clarity, compassionate instruction, and non-contentious communication—turning conduct into devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice vāṅ-niyama (restraint and purification of speech) alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), speaking only after reflection and with the intent to create harmony.