Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

कामजीवनहेतोर्हि रत्या संप्रार्थितैस्सुरैः । सम्प्रार्थित उवाचेदं शंकरो लोकशंकरः

Transliteration

kāmajīvanahetorhi ratyā saṃprārthitaissuraiḥ | samprārthita uvācedaṃ śaṃkaro lokaśaṃkaraḥ

Translation

Vì mục đích làm cho Kāma (thần Dục) được sống lại, và do Rati cùng chư thiên khẩn thiết cầu xin, Śaṅkara—đấng ban phúc cho muôn cõi—liền cất lời đáp lại lời thỉnh nguyện ấy như sau.

Word by Word

• काम-जीवन-हेतोः: for the cause of Kāma's life
• काम-जीवन-हेतोः: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + जीवन (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कर्मधारय-तत्पुरुषभावः)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha/Discourse marker (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• रत्या: by Rati
• रत्या: Karana/Agent-instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• सम्प्रार्थितैः: having been earnestly entreated
• सम्प्रार्थितैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-प्र-√अर्थ् (धातु) → सम्प्रार्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• सुरैः: by the gods
• सुरैः: Kartr/Agent (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• सम्प्रार्थितः: (he) being entreated
• सम्प्रार्थितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-प्र-√अर्थ् (धातु) → सम्प्रार्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; (शंकरः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• उवाच: said/spoke
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma/Object (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• लोक-शंकरः: benefactor of the worlds
• लोक-शंकरः: Apposition (सम्बोधन/विशेष्य-विशेषणभावः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: लोकस्य शंकरः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; introducing Shiva’s forthcoming speech)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The gods and Rati petition Śiva for Kāma’s restoration—an archetypal ‘deva-prārthanā’ motif that many kṣetras use to explain why desire is regulated (not annihilated) for cosmic order.

Significance: Highlights Śiva as loka-śaṅkara: grace that restores dharmaic functioning of the worlds; inspires devotees to seek anugraha for inner balance rather than indulgence.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rati
• Kama
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva as lokaśaṅkara—the auspicious benefactor of all worlds—who responds to sincere supplication and restores balance; in Shaiva Siddhanta, this reflects Shiva’s anugraha (grace) acting to re-establish dharma and cosmic harmony.

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

The verse presents Shiva in a personal, responsive form (Saguna), approachable through prayer and devotion—an attitude central to Linga worship, where devotees seek Shiva’s compassionate intervention and protection of cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is heartfelt supplication (prārthanā) to Shiva; a Shaiva takeaway is to chant the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with devotion while offering bilva leaves or applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a sign of surrender to Shiva’s grace.