Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 61

नन्दाव्रत-समाप्तिः तथा शङ्करस्य प्रत्यक्ष-दर्शनम्

Completion of the Nandā-vrata and Śiva’s Direct Appearance

Devanagari script

शंभुना तव पुत्र्यर्थं त्वत्सकाशमहं धुवम् । प्रस्थापितोस्मि यत्कृत्यं श्रेय स्तदवधारय

Transliteration

śaṃbhunā tava putryarthaṃ tvatsakāśamahaṃ dhuvam | prasthāpitosmi yatkṛtyaṃ śreya stadavadhāraya

Translation

เพื่อประโยชน์แห่งธิดาของท่าน พระศัมภูได้ส่งเรามายังท่านโดยแน่นอน เพราะฉะนั้นจงพิจารณาให้แจ่มชัดว่า บัดนี้ควรกระทำสิ่งใด อันนำไปสู่ความเกษมสูงสุด

Word by Word

• शंभुना: by Śambhu
• शंभुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• पुत्री-अर्थम्: for (your) daughter's sake
• पुत्री-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्री (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे ‘for the sake of (your) daughter’

• त्वत्-सकाशम्: to your presence
• त्वत्-सकाशम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘to your presence’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• प्रस्थापितः: have been dispatched
• प्रस्थापितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + स्था (धातु) → प्रस्थापित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि ‘was sent forth’

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; सहायकक्रिया (copula)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (relative)

• कृत्यम्: task
• कृत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘task/duty’

• श्रेयः: what is best
• श्रेयः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘the better/good’ (object of avadhāraya)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (demonstrative)

• अवधारय: consider/understand
• अवधारय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + धृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

A messenger speaking on behalf of Lord Shiva (Śambhu)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Śambhu)

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes śreyas—choosing what leads to the highest good—by aligning one’s actions with Śiva’s dharmic intent rather than ego, fear, or social pressure.

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

Śambhu is invoked as the personal, Saguna Lord who actively guides devotees through right action; devotion to Śiva is shown not only in ritual but in obedience to dharma that leads to śreyas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is dharmic discernment (viveka) before action—supported by Shiva-bhakti such as remembering Śambhu and mentally repeating the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while deciding what is truly śreyas.