Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 54

सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering

Devanagari script

ज्ञानिनां सूक्ष्मममलं भावात्प्रत्यक्षमव्ययम् । यथा स्थूलमयुक्तानामुत्कृष्टादौ प्रकल्पितम्

Transliteration

jñānināṃ sūkṣmamamalaṃ bhāvātpratyakṣamavyayam | yathā sthūlamayuktānāmutkṛṣṭādau prakalpitam

Translation

Đối với bậc trí, Thực tại là vi tế, thanh tịnh không cấu nhiễm, được trực giác qua quán niệm nội tâm, và bất hoại. Nhưng đối với kẻ chưa được điều phục, chưa hiệp nhất, Thực tại ấy được hình dung thành dạng thô—gán đặt như “tối thượng” v.v.—cốt để họ dễ lãnh hội.

Word by Word

• ज्ञानिनाम्: of the knowers
• ज्ञानिनाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठीविभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); ‘ज्ञानिन्’ = one who knows

• सूक्ष्मम्: subtle
• सूक्ष्मम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); विशेषण

• अमलम्: stainless, pure
• अमलम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषण

• भावात्: from (one’s) inner state/being
• भावात्: अपादान (Ablative/Source-Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमीविभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; कारणार्थे (sense of cause/source)

• प्रत्यक्षम्: directly perceptible/manifest
• प्रत्यक्षम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रत्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषण

• अव्ययम्: imperishable, unchanging
• अव्ययम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषण

• यथा: just as
• यथा: सम्बन्ध (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/उपमानार्थक अव्यय (indeclinable of comparison: “as, just as”)

• स्थूलम्: gross, tangible
• स्थूलम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषण

• अयुक्तानाम्: of the unfit/unintegrated (persons)
• अयुक्तानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक; युज् धातु से क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘युक्त’ + नञ्)
• Form: षष्ठीविभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participial adjective) used adjectivally; ‘unconnected/unfit’

• उत्कृष्ट-आदौ: in the initial/excellent stage (i.e., at the outset of the higher)
• उत्कृष्ट-आदौ: अधिकरण (Locative/Place-Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्कृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमीविभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): ‘उत्कृष्टस्य आदौ’ = in the beginning of the excellent (state/grade)

• प्रकल्पितम्: conceived/constructed (as)
• प्रकल्पितम्: कर्म (Object/that which is conceived)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कल्प् (धातु) (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थक (denotes ‘is conceived/constructed’)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva (the Supreme Reality) is truly subtle, pure, and imperishable, directly realized through inner bhāva and yogic insight by the wise; while those without discipline rely on conceptual or gross representations as a stepping-stone toward the same Truth.

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

It supports the Shaiva view that Saguna worship—such as the Śiva-liṅga—serves seekers who cannot yet grasp the subtle Nirguna Reality. The form is a compassionate aid, leading the mind from gross conception to direct inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate bhāva through meditation (dhyāna) and japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—so that Shiva becomes pratyakṣa (directly intuited). External worship can be used as support while developing inner steadiness (yoga).