Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

शिवस्य आश्वासनं हरि-ब्रह्मणोः तथा शङ्खचूडवृत्तान्तकथनम् / Śiva’s Reassurance to Hari and Brahmā; Account of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Origin

Devanagari script

त्वं ज्योतिः परमं साक्षात्सर्वव्यापी सनातनः । त्वया नाथेन गौरीश सनाथास्सकला वयम्

Transliteration

tvaṃ jyotiḥ paramaṃ sākṣātsarvavyāpī sanātanaḥ | tvayā nāthena gaurīśa sanāthāssakalā vayam

Translation

พระองค์ทรงเป็นแสงสว่างสูงสุดโดยแท้—ปรากฏชัด แผ่ซ่านทั่ว และเป็นนิรันดร์ โอ้พระคุรีศะ (ศิวะ) เมื่อพระองค์ทรงเป็นนาถผู้คุ้มครอง เราทั้งปวงจึงมีที่พึ่งและปลอดภัยแท้จริง

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), उत्तमपुरुषार्थे (2nd person), एकवचन, प्रथमा (1st case/Nominative)

• ज्योतिः: light, radiance
• ज्योतिः: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative); विशेषणम् (adjective) ज्योतिः-शब्दस्य

• साक्षात्: directly, manifestly
• साक्षात्: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण/निपात (adverb/particle)

• सर्वव्यापी: all-pervading
• सर्वव्यापी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + व्यापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative); विशेषणम् (adjective) त्वम्/सनातनः इत्यस्य

• सनातनः: eternal
• सनातनः: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative); विधेयविशेषणम् (predicative adjective) त्वम्-शब्दस्य

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, तृतीया (3rd case/Instrumental)

• नाथेन: as (our) lord/protector
• नाथेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (Instrumental); सहार्थे (in apposition with त्वया)

• गौरीश: O Lord of Gaurī
• गौरीश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरी + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सम्बोधन (Vocative); संबोधनपदम् (address)

• सनाथाः: having a protector
• सनाथाः: Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative); विधेयविशेषणम् (predicative adjective) वयम्-शब्दस्य

• सकलाः: all (of us), entire
• सकलाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative); विशेषणम् (adjective) वयम्-शब्दस्य

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), प्रथमपुरुषार्थे (1st person), बहुवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative)

Speaker

The gods (Devas), offering praise to Lord Shiva (Gaurisha) in the battle narrative

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: ‘tvaṃ jyotiḥ paramaṃ’ evokes the Jyotirliṅga motif (Śiva as the supreme, manifest Light), but the verse does not localize it to a named Jyotirliṅga shrine.

Significance: General: darśana of Śiva as jyotiḥ (inner and outer light) is said to grant protection (nāthatva) and steadiness of mind.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: त्वं ज्योतिः परमं साक्षात्सर्वव्यापी सनातनः । त्वया नाथेन गौरीश सनाथास्सकला वयम्

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse identifies Shiva as the supreme, self-evident Light (jyoti) who pervades all and is eternal; taking refuge in Him makes beings “sanātha” (protected), expressing Shaiva Siddhanta devotion to Pati (the Lord) as the ultimate shelter.

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

Calling Shiva “jyotiḥ paramaṁ” aligns with Linga worship where the Linga signifies the formless, all-pervading Reality, while addressing Him as “Gaurīśa” affirms Saguna Shiva—personally approachable as the compassionate Lord who grants protection.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) through japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—while meditating on Shiva as inner light (jyoti) and offering simple bhakti such as bilva leaves or vibhuti (tripuṇḍra) with humility.