Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1

विष्णूत्पत्तिवर्णनम्

Description of the Origin/Manifestation of Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । भो ब्रह्मन्साधु पृष्टोऽहं त्वया विबुधसत्तम । लोकोपकारिणा नित्यं लोकानां हितकाम्यया

Transliteration

brahmovāca | bho brahmansādhu pṛṣṭo'haṃ tvayā vibudhasattama | lokopakāriṇā nityaṃ lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā

Translation

Brahmā nói: “Hỡi vị Bà-la-môn cao quý, bậc ưu tú nhất trong hàng trí giả, ngươi đã hỏi Ta thật đúng đắn—luôn vì lợi ích của các thế giới và mong điều lành cho mọi loài.”

Word by Word

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वक्ता (speaker)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• bho: O!
• bho: Sambodhana-dyotaka (सम्बोधन-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bho (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)

• brahman: O Brahman (sage)
• brahman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन, एकवचन

• sādhu: well, good
• sādhu: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Form: प्रशंसा-निपात/क्रियाविशेषण (approving adverb)

• pṛṣṭaḥ: (I am) asked/questioned
• pṛṣṭaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समाना) with aham
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prach (धातु)
• Form: क्त/PPP, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive sense)

• aham: I
• aham: Kartā (कर्ता) (of implied ‘asmi’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karaṇa (करण) / Agent in passive (कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• vibudha-sattama: O best of the wise
• vibudha-sattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibudha (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (vibudhānāṃ sattamaḥ)

• loka-upakāriṇā: by (your) being a benefactor of the world
• loka-upakāriṇā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + upakārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (lokānām upakārī); instrumental of cause/means

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘always’ (accusative used adverbially)

• lokānām: of the worlds/people
• lokānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• hita-kāmyayā: by (your) desire for their welfare
• hita-kāmyayā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक) + kāmyā (प्रातिपदिक; from √kam ‘to desire’, feminine abstract)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (lokānāṃ hitaṃ kāmyate yayā = desire for welfare); instrumental of motive

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights loka-hita (universal welfare) as the motive for teaching Śiva-tattva; positions instruction as a form of grace benefiting all beings.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It establishes that sincere inquiry done for loka-hita (the good of all) is itself dharmic and worthy; such humility and right intention are presented as the proper doorway to receiving Shiva-tattva teachings.

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

By praising a questioner who seeks universal welfare, the text frames Shiva worship—especially Saguna Shiva approached through Linga—as not merely personal gain, but as a path that uplifts the world through dharma, devotion, and right understanding.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa and manana (devotional listening and reflection) with pure intention; it supports mantra-japa such as the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) undertaken for inner purification and the welfare of beings.