Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 58

संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇana) — “Account of Sandhyā’s Story”

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । आकर्ण्य तस्या वचनं वसिष्ठो ब्रह्मवित्तमः । स्वयं च सर्वकृत्यज्ञो नान्यत्किंचन पृष्टवान्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ākarṇya tasyā vacanaṃ vasiṣṭho brahmavittamaḥ | svayaṃ ca sarvakṛtyajño nānyatkiṃcana pṛṣṭavān

Translation

బ్రహ్ముడు పలికెను—ఆమె వచనమును విని బ్రహ్మవిద్యలో శ్రేష్ఠుడైన వసిష్ఠుడు, తానే సమస్త కర్తవ్యకర్మవిధులలో నిపుణుడై, మరేమియు ప్రశ్నించలేదు.

Word by Word

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदी, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ākarṇya: having heard
• ākarṇya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√kṛṇ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• vacanam: statement
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म/object of hearing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Vasiṣṭha
• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject of pṛṣṭavān)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• brahma-vit-tamaḥ: the best knower of Brahman
• brahma-vit-tamaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (कृदन्त/agent noun ‘vit’) + tama (प्रत्यय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्म वेत्ति इति ब्रह्मवित्; तेषां तमः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; superlative adjective to ‘vasiṣṭhaḥ’

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphatic adverb

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• sarva-kṛtya-jñaḥ: knower of all duties/acts
• sarva-kṛtya-jñaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛtya (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वेषां कृत्यानां ज्ञः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective to ‘vasiṣṭhaḥ’

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• anyat: anything else
• anyat: Karma (कर्म/object of asking)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; used with kiṃcana

• kiṃcana: anything whatsoever
• kiṃcana: Karma (कर्म; with anyat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiṃcana (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; indefinite pronoun

• pṛṣṭavān: asked
• pṛṣṭavān: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prach (धातु)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्यय: क्तवतु (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; finite sense ‘asked’

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vasistha

FAQs

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

It highlights discernment (viveka): a realized sage like Vasiṣṭha, grounded in dharma and higher knowledge, recognizes when further questioning is unnecessary—signaling inner clarity rather than mere debate.

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

Indirectly, it sets the tone for Shaiva practice: correct understanding and right conduct are prerequisites for fruitful Saguna worship (including Liṅga-pūjā). The verse emphasizes preparedness and maturity in receiving Shaiva teachings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is śravaṇa (reverent listening) with disciplined dharma. Practically, one may pair attentive listening/reading with steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to cultivate clarity.