Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras

Devanagari script

सृष्टिकर्ताऽभवद्ब्रह्मा हरिः पालनकारकः । लयकारी भविष्यामि रुद्ररूपो गुणाकृतिः

Transliteration

sṛṣṭikartā'bhavadbrahmā hariḥ pālanakārakaḥ | layakārī bhaviṣyāmi rudrarūpo guṇākṛtiḥ

Translation

Brahmā trở thành đấng tạo tác vũ trụ; Hari (Viṣṇu) trở thành đấng hộ trì. Còn Ta sẽ là đấng tiêu dung—mang hình Rudra—thọ nhận các guṇa đã hiển lộ để đảm nhiệm công việc của đại vũ trụ.

Word by Word

• सृष्टि-कर्तā: creator (of creation)
• सृष्टि-कर्तā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: सृष्टेः कर्ता; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अभवत्: became/was
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अ + √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पालन-कारकः: the agent of protection (preserver)
• पालन-कारकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पालन (प्रातिपदिक) + कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: पालनस्य कारकः; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate noun)

• लय-कारी: the doer of dissolution
• लय-कारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लय (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: लयस्य कारी; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (I as dissolver)

• भविष्यामि: I shall be
• भविष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रुद्र-रूपः: having the form of Rudra
• रुद्र-रूपः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: रुद्रस्य रूपः; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of speaker ‘I’)

• गुण-आकृतिः: embodiment/form constituted of the guṇas
• गुण-आकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: गुणैः आकृतिः/गुणानां आकृतिः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (as Rudra)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cyclic pralaya (implied)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that the one Supreme Lord assumes functional offices in the cosmos—creation, preservation, and dissolution—so the devotee recognizes Rudra’s dissolving power as a sacred grace that removes bondage and leads toward liberation.

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

By stating “Rudra in form, constituted by guṇas,” the verse points to Saguna Shiva—worshipped as the Liṅga and as Rudra—through whom devotees contemplate the Lord’s accessible manifested aspect while remembering His transcendence beyond all functions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Rudra as the power of laya (dissolution) while chanting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering water or bilva to the Liṅga, and inwardly surrendering attachments to be ‘dissolved’ by His grace.