Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 47

भूतत्रिपुरधर्मवर्णनम् (Description of the Dharma/Conduct of the Bhūta-Tripura) — Chapter 3

Devanagari script

यावच्च वेद धर्मास्तु यावद्वै शंकरार्चनम् । यावच्च शुचिकृत्यादि तावन्नाशो भवेन्न हि

Transliteration

yāvacca veda dharmāstu yāvadvai śaṃkarārcanam | yāvacca śucikṛtyādi tāvannāśo bhavenna hi

Translation

வேத தர்மங்கள் நிலைத்திருக்கும் வரை, சங்கராராதனை நடைபெறும் வரை, தூய்மைச் செயல்கள் முதலியவை கடைப்பிடிக்கப்படும் வரை—அதுவரை நிச்சயமாக நாசம் (ஆன்மீக வீழ்ச்சி) ஏற்படாது.

Word by Word

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Kāla-parimāṇa (कालपरिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative adverb)

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

• वेद: Veda (Vedic tradition)
• वेद: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा, एकवचन (collective sense)

• धर्माः: duties, dharmas
• धर्माः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तु: indeed, but
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; emphasis/contrast)

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Kāla-parimāṇa (कालपरिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative adverb)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; emphasis)

• शंकरार्चनम्: worship of Śaṅkara
• शंकरार्चनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: शंकरस्य अर्चनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Kāla-parimāṇa (कालपरिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative adverb)

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

• शुचिकृत्यादि: purificatory acts etc.
• शुचिकृत्यादि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुचि-कृत्य + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: शुचिकृत्य (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष: ‘pure rites’) + आदि (अव्ययीभाववत् ‘etc.’ as suffixal member); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (collective)

• तावत्: so long, to that extent
• तावत्: Kāla-parimāṇa (कालपरिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative adverb)

• नाशः: destruction, ruin
• नाशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would occur/be
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation particle)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Hetu-dyotaka (हेतुद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; reason/emphasis)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms that stability and non-downfall depend on śruti-aligned conduct, Śaṅkara-arcana, and śauca—core pillars of orthodox Śaiva practice.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that steady adherence to Vedic dharma, inner-outer purity, and devoted worship of Śiva preserves a seeker from spiritual decline and supports the path toward Śiva’s grace and liberation.

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

“Śaṅkarārcanam” points to concrete, Saguna worship—such as Liṅga-pūjā with offerings and mantra—showing that disciplined devotion, aligned with dharma, safeguards spiritual life.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain śauca (purity practices like ācamana and clean conduct) and perform regular Śiva-arcana; this can be supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a daily discipline.