Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

यथा च ज्योतिषस्संगाज्जलादेः स्पर्शता न वै । तथा ममागुणस्यापि संयोगाद्बन्धनं न हि

Transliteration

yathā ca jyotiṣassaṃgājjalādeḥ sparśatā na vai | tathā mamāguṇasyāpi saṃyogādbandhanaṃ na hi

Translation

Kung paanong ang liwanag, kahit malapit ang tubig at iba pa, ay hindi tunay na “nahahawakan” nito; gayon din Ako—na lampas sa mga guṇa—walang pagkagapos na nagmumula sa simpleng pagdikit o pakikisalamuha.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: उपमान-सम्बन्ध (Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान-अव्यय (comparative adverb)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ज्योतिषः: of light
• ज्योतिषः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• सङ्गात्: from contact/association
• सङ्गात्: अपादान (Apādāna/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• जल-आदेः: of water and the like
• जल-आदेः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठī), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (जलम् आदिः यस्य/जलादि)

• स्पर्शता: tangibility/being touchable
• स्पर्शता: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्शता (प्रातिपदिक; भाववाचक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भाववाचक-नाम (state/quality)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपातः (negation particle)

• वै: indeed
• वै: अवधारण (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/खलु-अर्थक निपातः (emphatic particle)

• तथा: so/likewise
• तथा: उपमेय-सम्बन्ध (Correlation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तदनुरूप-अव्यय (correlative adverb)

• मम: of me/my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• अगुणस्य: of the attributeless (one)
• अगुणस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: समुच्चय (Addition/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक निपातः (also/even)

• संयोगात्: from contact/association
• संयोगात्: अपादान/हेतु (Source/Reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• बन्धनम्: bondage
• बन्धनम्: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपातः (negation particle)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: हेतु (Reason marker/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतु/निश्चयार्थक निपातः (for/indeed)

Speaker

Lord Śiva (teaching on His nirguṇa nature within the Sṛṣṭi narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares Śiva as nirguṇa (beyond prakṛti’s qualities) and therefore eternally unbound; bondage belongs to the paśu (limited soul) under pāśa, not to the Pati (Lord).

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

Liṅga-worship approaches Śiva in a manifest, saguna form for devotion and grace, while this verse clarifies that His true nature remains untouched and unconditioned—saguna worship leads the devotee toward realizing the nirguṇa reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the witness beyond guṇas while chanting the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating detachment—engaging in worship without imagining any limitation or bondage in the Lord.