Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36

व्योमवाणी-श्रवणं, गणानां शरणागमनं, सती-दाह-वृत्तान्तः — Hearing the Heavenly Voice; The Gaṇas Seek Refuge; Account of Satī’s Self-Immolation

Devanagari script

लीलामात्रेण ते शंभो कार्यं यद्यपि सिद्ध्यति । तथाप्यहं प्रेषणीयो तवैवानुग्रहो ह्ययम्

Transliteration

līlāmātreṇa te śaṃbho kāryaṃ yadyapi siddhyati | tathāpyahaṃ preṣaṇīyo tavaivānugraho hyayam

Translation

Ôi Śambhu! Dẫu chỉ bằng cuộc hí lộng (līlā) của Ngài mà công việc đã thành tựu, con vẫn được sai đi làm sứ giả của Ngài—chính điều ấy là ân điển Ngài ban cho con.

Word by Word

• līlā-mātreṇa: by mere play
• līlā-mātreṇa: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative): 'लीलायाः मात्रेण' (by mere play); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (singular)

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (singular)

• śaṃbho: O Śambhu
• śaṃbho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (singular)

• kāryam: the task
• kāryam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तबोधक (conditional particle: if)

• api: even though
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-कार (concessive: even though)

• siddhyati: is accomplished/succeeds
• siddhyati: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sidh (सिध् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• tathāpi: nevertheless
• tathāpi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā + api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अपवादबोधक (concessive adverb: nevertheless)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• preṣaṇīyaḥ: to be sent/appointed
• preṣaṇīyaḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: preṣaṇīya (कृदन्त; प्रेष्/प्रेषय् धातु)
• Form: अनीयर्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive; 'to be sent/commissioned'); पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (singular)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle: indeed/only)

• anugrahaḥ: favor/grace
• anugrahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anugraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (particle: indeed/for)

• ayam: this
• ayam: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Nandi (Shiva’s attendant), speaking to Lord Shiva

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 teaches that Shiva’s work is accomplished effortlessly by His līlā, yet He grants devotees the blessing of participation; being chosen for service is itself anugraha (grace) and deepens humility and surrender.

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

It reflects Saguna Shiva’s accessible, personal relationship with devotees: the Lord who is complete in Himself still accepts loving service, mirroring how Linga-worship is an offering of devotion rather than something Shiva ‘needs’.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is bhakti expressed as seva: daily Shiva-puja with the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering bilva leaves and vibhuti (Tripundra) while mentally dedicating all actions as Shiva’s command.