Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26

मुनिप्रश्नवर्णनम्

Description of the Sages’ Questions

Devanagari script

भवद्भिः पृच्छ्यते यद्वत्तत्तथा नारदेन वै । पृष्टं पित्रे प्रेरितेन हरिणा शिवरूपिणा

Transliteration

bhavadbhiḥ pṛcchyate yadvattattathā nāradena vai | pṛṣṭaṃ pitre preritena hariṇā śivarūpiṇā

Translation

ดังที่ท่านทั้งหลายกำลังถามอยู่บัดนี้ นารทก็เคยถามจริงเช่นกัน—ด้วยแรงดลใจจากบิดา—ต่อพระหริผู้ทรงรับรูปเป็นพระศิวะ

Word by Word

• bhavadbhiḥ: by you (honored ones)
• bhavadbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनामवत्)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pṛcchyate: is asked
• pṛcchyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prach (धातु)
• Form: Passive (कर्मणि), Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• yadvat: just as
• yadvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Correlative adverb (यद्वत्-अव्यय): 'as/just as'

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd; प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: so/thus
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय): 'so/thus/in that manner'

• nāradena: by Nārada
• nāradena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात): 'indeed/certainly'

• pṛṣṭam: asked
• pṛṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prach (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• pitre: to the father
• pitre: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• preritena: by (one) impelled/urged
• preritena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√īr (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• hariṇā: by Hari (Viṣṇu)
• hariṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śivarūpiṇā: in the form of Śiva
• śivarūpiṇā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'having the form of Śiva'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes an authentic lineage of inquiry: the sages’ questions mirror Nārada’s earlier questioning, showing that sincere doubt and reverent inquiry are a sanctioned path to receiving Śiva-tattva (the truth of Śiva).

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

By stating that Hari assumed a Śiva-form, the verse underscores Saguna revelation—Śiva’s approachable manifestation—supporting devotional worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā) as a valid means to know the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is śravaṇa and praśna (listening and sacred inquiry) in a devotional mood; in practice, this pairs naturally with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while contemplating the non-dual harmony of Hari and Hara.