Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11

रुद्र-विष्णोः ऐकत्व-उपदेशः तथा धर्म-आज्ञा

Instruction on Rudra–Viṣṇu Unity and Divine Injunctions

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा मां च धातारं हस्ते धृत्वा स्वयं हरिम् । कथयामास दुःखेषु सहायो भव सर्वदा

Transliteration

ityuktvā māṃ ca dhātāraṃ haste dhṛtvā svayaṃ harim | kathayāmāsa duḥkheṣu sahāyo bhava sarvadā

Translation

ఇట్లు చెప్పి, నన్ను మరియు ధాతా (బ్రహ్మ)ను చేతిపట్టి, స్వయంగా హరి (విష్ణు)తో ఇలా పలికెను—“దుఃఖకాలమందు సదా సహాయకుడవై ఉండు।”

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotation particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), from √vac; indeclinable verbal form (पूर्वकालिक क्रिया)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय-बोधक)

• dhātāram: the Creator (Dhātṛ/Brahmā)
• dhātāram: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhātṛ (धातृ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• haste: in the hand
• haste: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (हस्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• dhṛtvā: having held
• dhṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धृ धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), from √dhṛ; indeclinable verbal form (पूर्वकालिक क्रिया)

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (स्वयम्—स्वतः)

• harim: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• harim: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (हरि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kathayāmāsa: he said/told
• kathayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kathaya (कथय धातु-प्रयोगः; √kath/कथ् causative)
• Form: Verb, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• duḥkheṣu: in sorrows
• duḥkheṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (दुःख प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sahāyaḥ: a helper
• sahāyaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahāya (सहाय प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhava: be
• bhava: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Verb, Parasmaipada, Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of time (कालवाचक)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Rudra) (inferred from Rudrasaṃhitā Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa narrative context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s role as the supreme guide who establishes dharma through compassion: in worldly suffering (duḥkha), one should become a steady support to others, reflecting divine grace and right conduct.

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

Saguna Śiva is worshipped as the personal Lord who intervenes in creation and guides the cosmic functions; this instruction to Hari shows the Lord’s accessible, relational form—devotion to the Liṅga is meant to mature into compassionate action.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical sādhana is to pair japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a vrata of service—consciously helping others during distress—as an offering to Śiva, aligning worship with dharmic conduct.