Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

तल्लिङ्गमर्चयेन्नित्यं येन केनापि हेतुना । तस्मात् ब्रह्मन्सुरः शर्वः सर्वकामफलेप्सया

Transliteration

talliṅgamarcayennityaṃ yena kenāpi hetunā | tasmāt brahmansuraḥ śarvaḥ sarvakāmaphalepsayā

Translation

Kaya nga, O Brahman, sambahin ang Liṅga na iyon araw-araw, sa anumang dahilan; sapagkat si Śarva (Panginoong Śiva), ang nagkakaloob ng bunga ng lahat ng hangarin, ay dapat hanapin sa pamamagitan ng gayong pagsamba.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• liṅgam: liṅga (Śiva-emblem)
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• arcayet: should worship
• arcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• yena: by which
• yena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• kena: by some (means)
• kena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); interrogative/indefinite in context

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• hetunā: for a reason; by a cause
• hetunā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative-form used adverbially (तस्मात् = therefore/from that); avyayībhāva-like usage

• brahman: O Brahmin
• brahman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• suraḥ: the god
• suraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śarvaḥ: Śarva (Śiva)
• śarvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); proper epithet of Śiva

• sarva-kāma-phala-īpsayā: by desire for the fruits of all wishes
• sarva-kāma-phala-īpsayā: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक) + īpsā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound meaning 'by the desire for the fruit of all wishes'

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that daily worship of the Shiva Liṅga is universally auspicious—whatever one’s motive, turning toward Pati (Śiva) steadily purifies the soul and leads from desired fruits toward higher grace and liberation.

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

The Liṅga is the accessible saguna form through which devotees approach the transcendent Lord; the verse emphasizes consistent archana as a direct means to connect with Śiva as giver of all results and ultimate refuge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform nitya Liṅga-arcana—offer water, bilva leaves, and simple upachāras while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating steady devotion regardless of one’s immediate intention.