Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

भक्तिभेदाः—ज्ञानप्रधानभक्तेः प्रशंसा

Grades of Devotees and the Praise of Knowledge-Centered Devotion

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य महेशस्य वचनं सुखकारकम् । जहृषुस्सकलास्तत्र सुरमुन्यादयो मुने

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ityākarṇya maheśasya vacanaṃ sukhakārakam | jahṛṣussakalāstatra suramunyādayo mune

Translation

Brahmā nói: Nghe như vậy lời của Mahādeva, lời ban phúc lạc, tất cả những ai hiện diện nơi đó—chư thiên, các bậc hiền triết và những vị khác—đều hân hoan, hỡi bậc Muni.

Word by Word

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

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-√कर्ण्/कृ (धातु) (क्त्वान्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप (gerund/absolutive), ‘having heard’

• महेशस्य: of Maheśa
• महेशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समासः (महान् ईशः)

• वचनम्: statement
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सुखकारकम्: bringing happiness
• सुखकारकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख-कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (सुखं करोति इति)

• जहृषुः: rejoiced
• जहृषुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• सकलाः: all (of them)
• सकलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (समूहवाचक), प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• सुरमुन्यादयः: gods, sages, and others
• सुरमुन्यादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर-मुनि-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (सुराश्च मुनयश्च) + ‘आदि’ (etc.)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Devas
• Sages

FAQs

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

It highlights that Śiva’s compassionate speech is inherently “sukhakāraka”—it uplifts the heart and turns the assembly toward grace (anugraha), a key Shaiva understanding of Śiva as Pati who bestows spiritual joy.

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

The verse portrays Saguna Śiva (Maheśa) as personally communicative and beneficent; such hearing (śravaṇa) of His words naturally supports devotional worship, including Linga-upāsanā, where the devotee approaches Śiva as a present, gracious Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A direct takeaway is śravaṇa (devotional listening) and mananā (reflective contemplation) of Śiva-kathā; in practice, this pairs well with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while listening to Purāṇic recitation.