Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मनारदसम्वादः सम्पूर्णः कथितो मया । शिवस्सर्वप्रधानो हि किं भूयश्श्रोतुमिच्छसि

Transliteration

brahmanāradasamvādaḥ sampūrṇaḥ kathito mayā | śivassarvapradhāno hi kiṃ bhūyaśśrotumicchasi

Translation

பிரம்மா–நாரதர் உரையாடலை நான் முழுமையாகக் கூறிவிட்டேன். உண்மையாகவே சிவன் எல்லாவற்றிலும் முதன்மையான பரமப் பிரபு; இன்னும் என்ன கேட்க விரும்புகிறாய்?

Word by Word

• ब्रह्म-नारद-संवादः: the dialogue of Brahmā and Nārada
• ब्रह्म-नारद-संवादः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + नारद (प्रातिपदिक) + संवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः नारदस्य च संवादः)

• सम्पूर्णः: complete
• सम्पूर्णः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• कथितः: has been narrated
• कथितः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थः (passive sense: 'has been told')

• मया: by me
• मया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्व-प्रधानः: the foremost of all
• सर्व-प्रधानः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वः चासौ प्रधानः)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• भूयः: further/more
• भूयः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) पुनरर्थे/अधिकम्

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); श्रवणार्थे

• इच्छसि: you wish/desire
• इच्छसि: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Narada

FAQs

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

The verse seals the teaching that all narratives ultimately point to one conclusion: Śiva is Pati—the supreme Lord—so hearing, reflection, and devotion should culminate in steadiness of Śiva-bhakti and the pursuit of liberation through His grace.

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

By declaring Śiva as “sarva-pradhāna,” it legitimizes all Śaiva upāsanā—especially Liṅga worship—as a direct approach to the Supreme, where the visible Saguna form (Liṅga/Śiva-mūrti) leads the devotee toward the highest reality upheld by Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to shift from mere curiosity to practice: daily Śiva-nāma japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with simple Liṅga-pūjā, cultivating surrender to Śiva as the supreme refuge.