Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1

दक्षयज्ञोत्तरवृत्तान्तः

Post–Dakṣa-Yajña Developments and the Appeal to Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

नारद उचाच । विधे विधे महाप्राज्ञा शैवतत्त्वप्रदर्शक । श्राविता रमणीप्राया शिवलीला महाद्भुता

Transliteration

nārada ucāca | vidhe vidhe mahāprājñā śaivatattvapradarśaka | śrāvitā ramaṇīprāyā śivalīlā mahādbhutā

Translation

Nārada thưa: “Ôi Đấng Tạo Hóa, ôi Đấng Tạo Hóa—bậc đại trí, người hiển bày chân lý của Śiva—con đã được nghe một līlā của Đức Śiva thật kỳ diệu phi thường, lại đầy vẻ quyến rũ.”

Word by Word

• नारदः: Narada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (नारद प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विधे: O Creator (Brahmā)
• विधे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhātr/vidhi (विधि/विधातृ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विधे: O Creator
• विधे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhātr/vidhi (विधि/विधातृ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• महाप्राज्ञ: O greatly wise one
• महाप्राज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + prājña (महा, प्राज्ञ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महान् प्राज्ञः

• शैवतत्त्वप्रदर्शक: O revealer of Śaiva truth
• शैवतत्त्वप्रदर्शक: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaiva + tattva + pradarśaka (शैव, तत्त्व, प्रदर्शक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: शैवस्य तत्त्वस्य प्रदर्शकः

• श्राविता: was narrated/recited
• श्राविता: Kriya (क्रिया; विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śrāvita (श्रावित प्रातिपदिक; causative PPP from √śru श्रु)
• Form: क्त (PPP) from causative; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘caused to be heard/recited’

• रमणीप्राया: mostly concerning a lady
• रमणीप्राया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramaṇī + prāya (रमणी, प्राय प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: रमणी-प्राय (mostly about a woman)

• शिवलीला: Śiva’s play (divine sport)
• शिवलीला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva + līlā (शिव, लीला प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: शिवस्य लीला

• महाद्भुता: very wonderful
• महाद्भुता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + adbhuta (महा, अद्भुत प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महद् अद्भुतम्

Speaker

Narada

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Sets the pedagogical frame: Śiva-līlā is presented as śaiva-tattva-pradarśana (revelation of Śiva’s truth), making listening itself a meritorious pilgrimage of the mind (mānasa-tīrtha).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Narada
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It shows the proper disciple-attitude: Nārada acknowledges Brahmā as a teacher who reveals Śiva-tattva, implying that hearing (śravaṇa) Śiva’s līlā with reverence is itself a doorway to bhakti and right understanding of Pati (Śiva).

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

By praising Śiva-līlā as “marvelous and charming,” the verse supports Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva through narrated forms, deeds, and grace—commonly expressed in Purāṇic worship such as liṅga-pūjā and kīrtana of Śiva’s names.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa and manana: regularly listening to Śiva-kathā and contemplating Śiva-tattva; this can be paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a focused daily sādhana.