Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

शिवतत्त्ववर्णनम् (Śiva-tattva-varṇana) — “Description/Exposition of the Principle of Śiva”

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचश्शंभोर्मया च सहितो हरिः । प्रत्युवाच महेशानं प्रणिपत्य कृतांजलिः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ityākarṇya vacaśśaṃbhormayā ca sahito hariḥ | pratyuvāca maheśānaṃ praṇipatya kṛtāṃjaliḥ

Translation

พรหมากล่าวว่า: ครั้นได้ฟังพระดำรัสของพระศัมภูแล้ว หริพร้อมกับเราได้กราบนอบน้อมแด่พระมหีศานะ และประนมมือด้วยความเคารพ แล้วทูลตอบ

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्ति-सूचक (quotative)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive) from आ+कर्ण्; ‘having heard’

• वचः: words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (वचः = acc. sg. of वचस्)

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu
• शम्भोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मया: by me/with me
• मया: Sahakaraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• सहितः: accompanied
• सहितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (हरिः इत्यस्य)

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; प्रति+उवाच (prefixal)

• महेशानम्: Mahēśāna (great Lord)
• महेशानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—महान् + ईशानः (कर्मधारयः)

• प्रणिपत्य: having prostrated
• प्रणिपत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive) from प्र+नि+पत्; ‘having bowed down’

• कृत-अञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• कृत-अञ्जलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ-धातुज क्त) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कृतः अञ्जलिः यस्य (तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारय-सन्निकर्षः; अर्थतः ‘hands folded’)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati (surrender) and vinaya (humility): even Brahmā and Viṣṇu respond to Śiva’s instruction by bowing and speaking with reverence, showing that grace and right understanding arise through devotion to Pati (the Lord).

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

The verse models Saguna-upāsanā through embodied reverence—praṇāma and añjali—typical of Linga worship where the devotee approaches Śiva as Maheśāna, the personal Lord who receives devotion and bestows guidance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is implied: begin Shiva worship with praṇāma and añjali, then mentally offer surrender while reciting the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before proceeding to offerings such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) or mantra-japa.