Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 24

Dāruvana-parīkṣā: Śaṅkara’s Test and the Linga’s Ritual-Theological Grounding

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मा तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शिवमायाविमोहितान् । ज्ञात्वा ताञ्च्छंकरं नत्वा प्रोवाच ऋषिसत्तमान्

Transliteration

brahmā tadvacanaṃ śrutvā śivamāyāvimohitān | jñātvā tāñcchaṃkaraṃ natvā provāca ṛṣisattamān

Translation

Nghe những lời ấy, Brahmā hiểu rằng các bậc hiền triết đã bị māyā của Śiva làm mê hoặc. Rồi Ngài cúi lạy Śaṅkara và cất lời với các vị ṛṣi tối thượng.

Word by Word

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

• तत्-वचनम्: that statement
• तत्-वचनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (तस्य वचनम्)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/Non-finite verb; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; ‘having heard’

• शिव-माया-विमोहितान्: those deluded by Śiva’s māyā
• शिव-माया-विमोहितान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक) + विमोहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वि+मुह्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शिवमायया विमोहिताः)

• ज्ञात्वा: having understood
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/Non-finite verb; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; ‘having known/understood’

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• नत्वा: having bowed (to)
• नत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/Non-finite verb; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; ‘having bowed’

• प्रोवाच: said/spoke
• प्रोवाच: Karta (कर्ता/Finite verb of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• ऋषि-सत्तमान्: the best of sages
• ऋषि-सत्तमान्: Karma (कर्म/Object; addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (ऋषीणां सत्तमाः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Shankara

FAQs

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

It highlights that even exalted sages can be veiled by Śiva’s māyā, and that clarity arises through recognizing Śiva as the supreme Lord (Pati) and approaching Him with humility and surrender.

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

Brahmā’s bowing to Śaṅkara models Saguna devotion—reverence to Śiva as approachable Lord—through which the devotee moves beyond भ्रम (delusion) toward right understanding, a key theme in Jyotirliṅga-centered Kotirudrasaṁhitā narratives.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is namaskāra and śaraṇāgati (bowing and surrender) to Śiva, supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to steady the mind and pierce māyā.