Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

रुद्र-विष्णोः ऐकत्व-उपदेशः तथा धर्म-आज्ञा

Instruction on Rudra–Viṣṇu Unity and Divine Injunctions

Devanagari script

एकविंशसहस्राणि शतैः षड्भिश्शतानि च । अहोरात्राणि चोक्तानि प्रमाणं सुरसत्तमौ

Transliteration

ekaviṃśasahasrāṇi śataiḥ ṣaḍbhiśśatāni ca | ahorātrāṇi coktāni pramāṇaṃ surasattamau

Translation

โอผู้ประเสริฐในหมู่เทพ มาตรานั้นได้กล่าวไว้ว่าเป็นยี่สิบเอ็ดพันหกร้อยรอบแห่งอหโรราตรี (กลางวัน-กลางคืน)

Word by Word

• एकविंश-सहस्राणि: twenty-one thousand (units)
• एकविंश-सहस्राणि: कर्म/प्रमेय (Object/measure stated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकविंश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग. द्विगुसमासः (numeral compound): ‘twenty-one thousands’

• शतैः: by hundreds / with hundreds
• शतैः: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• षड्भिः: by six
• षड्भिः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; (gender per qualified noun)

• शतानि: hundreds
• शतानि: कर्म/प्रमेय (Object/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अहोरात्राणि: day-nights (full days)
• अहोरात्राणि: कर्म/प्रमेय (Object/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहोरात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग. द्वन्द्वसमासः: अहन् + रात्रि (day and night)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• उक्तानि: are said/declared
• उक्तानि: कर्मणि-भाव (Predicative/Passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘said/declared’ (agreeing with plural neuter measures)

• प्रमाणम्: the measure/standard
• प्रमाणम्: विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• सुर-सत्तमौ: O best of gods (you two)
• सुर-सत्तमौ: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), द्विवचन; पुंलिङ्ग. तत्पुरुषसमासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): ‘best among gods’

Speaker

Brahmā (narrating cosmological measures within Sṛṣṭi Khaṇḍa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Quantification of ahorātra cycles as a cosmological pramāṇa (standard measure)

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

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

It frames creation in precise measures of kāla (time), reminding the seeker that all counted time belongs to manifested nature, while Shiva as Pati ultimately transcends time and grants liberation beyond temporal cycles.

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

Cosmic measures support orderly ritual timing (vrata, pūjā, observances), while Linga-worship points from the measurable universe to Shiva’s timeless reality—Saguna worship leading the mind toward the Nirguna ground.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain disciplined observance of daily worship across ahorātras—steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regular application of Tripuṇḍra as a time-sanctifying sādhana.