Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 80

सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering

Devanagari script

तीर्थानि श्लाघयंतीह तादृशं ज्ञानवित्तमम् । देवाश्च मुनयस्सर्वे परब्रह्मात्मकं शिवम्

Transliteration

tīrthāni ślāghayaṃtīha tādṛśaṃ jñānavittamam | devāśca munayassarve parabrahmātmakaṃ śivam

Translation

ณที่นี้ แม้สถานที่ศักดิ์สิทธิ์ทั้งหลายก็ยังสรรเสริญทรัพย์อันสูงสุดนั้นคือ ‘ญาณ’ และเหล่าเทพทั้งปวงกับฤๅษีทั้งปวงย่อมสดุดีพระศิวะ ผู้มีสภาวะเป็นปรพรหม

Word by Word

• tīrthāni: holy places; tīrthas
• tīrthāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacana (plural/बहुवचन)

• ślāghayanti: praise; extol
• ślāghayanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ślāgh (श्लाघ् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra, Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana; parasmaipada; causative not intended here (simple verb ‘praise’)

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-kāla avyaya (adverb/देश-काल अव्यय)

• tādṛśam: such (a one/thing)
• tādṛśam: Karma (कर्म) (object of ślāghayanti)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tādṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• jñāna-vittamam: supremely wise; best in knowledge
• jñāna-vittamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of tādṛśam
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + vittama (प्रातिपदिक; superlative of √vid ‘to know’/or ‘vitta’ in sense ‘known/wise’)
• Form: Samāsa: tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘jñānena vittamaḥ/atiśayena jñānavān’; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; superlative sense (uttama/तम)

• devāḥ: gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (co-subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (samuccaya/समुच्चय)

• munayaḥ: sages
• munayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (co-subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of devāḥ munayaḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• para-brahma-ātmakam: whose essence is the Supreme Brahman
• para-brahma-ātmakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of śivam
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘parabrahma ātmā yasya/tad-ātmaka’; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म) (object understood with ‘praise’/context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya in the Rudra Saṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A meta-tīrtha statement: tīrthas themselves ‘praise’ jñāna as the highest wealth, and gods/sages extol Śiva as Parabrahman—placing Śiva above all sanctifying loci as their inner essence.

Significance: Reorients pilgrimage from external travel to internal attainment: knowledge of Parabrahman-Śiva is the supreme merit; tīrthas are secondary to jñāna and devotion to Śiva.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas
• Munis
• Tirthas

FAQs

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

It declares that the highest “wealth” is jñāna (spiritual knowledge) culminating in the recognition of Śiva as Parabrahman; even tīrthas are secondary to God-realizing knowledge that liberates the soul.

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

While Śiva is affirmed as Parabrahman (transcendent), devotees approach Him through Saguna forms such as the Liṅga; the verse implies that outward pilgrimage and forms become fruitful when they mature into inner knowledge of Śiva’s supreme nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prioritize jñāna-oriented devotion: regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with contemplation on Śiva as Parabrahman; let tīrtha, bhasma, and other observances support inner realization rather than replace it.