Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

तारकासुर-पूर्ववृत्त-प्रश्नः (Questions on Tārakāsura and Śivā’s tapas) / “Inquiry into Tārakāsura’s origin and Śivā–Śiva narrative”

Devanagari script

तत्त्वसारं विधे सूत मह्यं वेदविदाम्वर । येन स्यां सुसुखी नित्यं निर्विकारः प्रसन्नधीः

Transliteration

tattvasāraṃ vidhe sūta mahyaṃ vedavidāmvara | yena syāṃ susukhī nityaṃ nirvikāraḥ prasannadhīḥ

Translation

Ôi Sūta—bậc tối thượng trong hàng người thông hiểu Veda—xin dạy cho con chân lý cốt yếu, nhờ đó con được an lạc mãi mãi, không biến động nội tâm, và trí tuệ trong sáng an nhiên.

Word by Word

• तत्त्वसारम्: the essence of truth/principle
• तत्त्वसारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व + सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (तत्त्वस्य सारः)

• विधे: teach / explain
• विधे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धा (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग) ; विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; (वि+धा → विधे)

• सूत: O Sūta
• सूत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• मह्यम्: to me
• मह्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उभयलिङ्ग/सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• वेदविदाम्: of the knowers of the Vedas
• वेदविदाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• वर: O excellent (one)
• वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/ संबोधन), एकवचन; विशेषण (to implied ‘सूत’)

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative)

• स्याम्: may I be
• स्याम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative/Potential), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुसुखी: very happy
• सुसुखी: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + सुखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (to implied ‘अहम्’)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb)

• निर्विकारः: unchanging
• निर्विकारः: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (to implied ‘अहम्’)

• प्रसन्नधीः: of serene mind
• प्रसन्नधीः: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (प्रसन्ना धीः यस्य)

Speaker

A sage (listener) addressing Suta Goswami in the Parvati Khanda narrative frame

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Suta

FAQs

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

The verse expresses the seeker’s aim: to receive tattva-sāra (essential truth) that leads to lasting contentment, mental steadiness (nirvikāra), and a purified, serene intellect—key fruits of Shaiva knowledge directed toward liberation.

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

In Shaiva Siddhanta, clarity of tattva is supported by disciplined Saguna worship—such as reverence to Shiva in Linga form—which purifies the mind and prepares it to grasp the essence of reality and rest in steadiness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies seeking instruction and cultivating inner serenity; practically, this aligns with steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with simple Shiva-upasana that calms the mind and stabilizes the intellect.