Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

रुद्र-विष्णोः ऐकत्व-उपदेशः तथा धर्म-आज्ञा

Instruction on Rudra–Viṣṇu Unity and Divine Injunctions

Devanagari script

इत्थं रूपं त्वया तावद्रक्षणीयं ममाज्ञया । तावत्सृष्टेश्च कार्यं वै कर्तव्यं विविधैर्गुणैः

Transliteration

itthaṃ rūpaṃ tvayā tāvadrakṣaṇīyaṃ mamājñayā | tāvatsṛṣṭeśca kāryaṃ vai kartavyaṃ vividhairguṇaiḥ

Translation

ดังนี้ ด้วยบัญชาของเรา เจ้าจงรักษารูปนี้ไว้ชั่วกาลก่อน และตราบเท่านั้น งานแห่งการสร้างสรรค์พึงกระทำโดยแท้ พร้อมด้วยคุณลักษณะ (คุณะ) อันหลากหลาย.

Word by Word

• ittham: thus
• ittham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/in this manner)

• rūpam: form/state
• rūpam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्ता-करणभाव), एकवचन

• tāvat: for so long
• tāvat: Kāla/avadhि (काल/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अवधि (so long/for that much)

• rakṣaṇīyam: to be protected
• rakṣaṇīyam: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rakṣ (धातु)
• Form: भाव्य/अनियत-कर्तृक कर्मणि—अनीयर्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः—should be protected

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• ājñayā: by (my) command
• ājñayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• tāvat: until then
• tāvat: Kāla/avadhि (काल/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तावत्—‘until then/so long’ (correlative)

• sṛṣṭeḥ: of creation
• sṛṣṭeḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

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

• kāryam: the task/work
• kāryam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक (indeed)

• kartavyam: must be done
• kartavyam: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्यतार्थक—तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; (kāryam इत्यस्य विधेय)

• vividhaiḥ: with various
• vividhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (guṇaiḥ)

• guṇaiḥ: qualities/attributes
• guṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Śiva (issuing a command within the creation narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmogonic commissioning: the Lord’s directive initiates structured creation with ‘vividhaiḥ guṇaiḥ’ (guṇa-differentiation in prakṛti/māyā).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who governs cosmic order: forms are maintained by His command, and creation proceeds through regulated guṇas—showing that the universe functions under Śiva’s sovereignty, not mere chance.

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

By emphasizing “form” (rūpa) to be preserved, the verse supports Saguna worship: devotees approach Śiva through a maintained, sacred manifestation (such as the Liṅga), while recognizing that this form serves a cosmic purpose under Śiva’s will.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the inner governor of the guṇas and repeat the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with the resolve to align one’s actions with dharma—mirroring the verse’s theme of obedience to Śiva’s ājñā (divine command).