Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31

देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras

Devanagari script

यो निवृत्तिसुमार्गस्थः स्वात्मारामो निरंजनः । अवधूततनुर्ज्ञानी स्वद्रष्टा कामवर्जितः

Transliteration

yo nivṛttisumārgasthaḥ svātmārāmo niraṃjanaḥ | avadhūtatanurjñānī svadraṣṭā kāmavarjitaḥ

Translation

நிவிருத்தியின் சிறந்த பாதையில் நிலைத்து, தன்னுள்ளே ஆனந்தம் காணும், மாசற்றவன்; அவதூதன் போல உடலைத் தாங்கினாலும் ஞானி; தன் ஆத்மாவுக்குத் தானே சாட்சி, ஆசையற்றவன்—அவனே.

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• निवृत्ति-सुमार्ग-स्थः: standing on the good path of withdrawal
• निवृत्ति-सुमार्ग-स्थः: Karta-modifier (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निवृत्ति + सुमार्ग + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (‘situated on the good path of renunciation’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वात्म-आरामः: self-delighting
• स्वात्म-आरामः: Karta-modifier (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + आत्मन् + आराम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘one who delights in his own self’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निरञ्जनः: stainless, pure
• निरञ्जनः: Karta-modifier (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अवधूत-तनुः: avadhūta-bodied
• अवधूत-तनुः: Karta-modifier (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवधूत + तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘one whose body is that of an avadhūta / avadhūta-bodied’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ज्ञानी: knower, wise one
• ज्ञानी: Karta-modifier (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्व-द्रष्टा: self-seeing
• स्व-द्रष्टा: Karta-modifier (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + द्रष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘self-seeing/one who sees by himself’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• काम-वर्जितः: free from desire
• काम-वर्जितः: Karta-modifier (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम + वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘devoid of desire’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines the Shaiva ideal of liberation: turning to nivṛtti (withdrawal from bondage), resting in the pure Self, and becoming desireless—conditions that make one receptive to Shiva’s liberating grace.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not only external ritual; it is meant to mature into inner purity and witnessing-awareness. Devotion to Saguna Shiva culminates in niranjana-bhāva (stainlessness) and detachment, aligning the devotee with Shiva’s transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to meditation as self-witnessing (svadraṣṭā) and disciplined renunciation of desire; in Shiva Purana practice this is commonly supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a sāttvika, detached lifestyle.