Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5

अलकापतेः तपः-लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठा च वरप्राप्तिः / The Lord of Alakā: Austerity, Liṅga-Establishment, and the Receiving of a Boon

Devanagari script

शिवैकादशमुद्बोध्य चित्तरत्नप्रदीपकैः । अनन्यभक्तिस्नेहाढ्यस्तन्मयो ध्याननिश्चलः

Transliteration

śivaikādaśamudbodhya cittaratnapradīpakaiḥ | ananyabhaktisnehāḍhyastanmayo dhyānaniścalaḥ

Translation

சித்தரத்தினத்தின் தீபஒளியால் சிவனின் ஏகாதச நிலையை விழிப்பூட்டி, அவன் தனித்த பக்தி-அன்பால் நிறைந்து; தன்னிலை மறந்து தியானத்தில் அசையாது நிலைத்திருப்பான்.

Word by Word

• शिवैकादशम्: the eleven (forms) of Śiva
• शिवैकादशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + एकादश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन (Neuter; Acc sg); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'of Śiva')

• उद्बोध्य: having awakened/realized
• उद्बोध्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + बुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभाव (indeclinable gerund)

• चित्तरत्नप्रदीपकैः: by mind-jewel lamps (i.e., luminous inner gems)
• चित्तरत्नप्रदीपकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त + रत्न + प्रदीपक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Masc; Instr pl); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'lamps that are jewels of the mind/heart')

• अनन्यभक्तिस्नेहाढ्यः: rich in exclusive devotion and love
• अनन्यभक्तिस्नेहाढ्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्य + भक्ति + स्नेह + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masc; Nom sg); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'rich in exclusive devotion and affection')

• तन्मयः: absorbed in that (Śiva)
• तन्मयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masc; Nom sg); तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'consisting of/absorbed in that')

• ध्याननिश्चलः: steady in meditation
• ध्याननिश्चलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यान + निश्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masc; Nom sg); कर्मधारय (descriptive: 'steadfast in meditation')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation-oriented practice matures when inner awareness illumines the mind, giving rise to exclusive love for Shiva; then meditation becomes steady and the devotee abides in Shiva-centered absorption (tanmaya).

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

The verse supports Saguna-focused upasana: by fixing the mind on Shiva (often through Linga-worship, mantra, and form-based contemplation), devotion becomes ananya, and the mind is stabilized into continuous dhyana that leads toward realization of Shiva’s supreme reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is one-pointed Shiva-dhyana supported by mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined concentration until the mind becomes niścala (unwavering) in remembrance of Shiva.