Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26

मुनिप्रश्नवर्णनम्

Description of the Sages’ Questions

Devanagari script

भवद्भिः पृच्छ्यते यद्वत्तत्तथा नारदेन वै । पृष्टं पित्रे प्रेरितेन हरिणा शिवरूपिणा

Transliteration

bhavadbhiḥ pṛcchyate yadvattattathā nāradena vai | pṛṣṭaṃ pitre preritena hariṇā śivarūpiṇā

Translation

Như các ông đang hỏi bây giờ, thì Nārada quả thật cũng đã hỏi như thế—do cha mình thúc giục—đối với Hari, Đấng đã mang hình tướng của Śiva.

Word by Word

• bhavadbhiḥ: by you (honored ones)
• bhavadbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनामवत्)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pṛcchyate: is asked
• pṛcchyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prach (धातु)
• Form: Passive (कर्मणि), Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• yadvat: just as
• yadvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Correlative adverb (यद्वत्-अव्यय): 'as/just as'

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd; प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: so/thus
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय): 'so/thus/in that manner'

• nāradena: by Nārada
• nāradena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात): 'indeed/certainly'

• pṛṣṭam: asked
• pṛṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prach (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• pitre: to the father
• pitre: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• preritena: by (one) impelled/urged
• preritena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√īr (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• hariṇā: by Hari (Viṣṇu)
• hariṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śivarūpiṇā: in the form of Śiva
• śivarūpiṇā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'having the form of Śiva'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes an authentic lineage of inquiry: the sages’ questions mirror Nārada’s earlier questioning, showing that sincere doubt and reverent inquiry are a sanctioned path to receiving Śiva-tattva (the truth of Śiva).

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

By stating that Hari assumed a Śiva-form, the verse underscores Saguna revelation—Śiva’s approachable manifestation—supporting devotional worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā) as a valid means to know the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is śravaṇa and praśna (listening and sacred inquiry) in a devotional mood; in practice, this pairs naturally with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while contemplating the non-dual harmony of Hari and Hara.