Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44

गणेशविवाहोत्सवः तथा सिद्धि-बुद्धि-सन्तानवर्णनम् | Gaṇeśa’s Wedding Festival and the Progeny of Siddhi & Buddhi

Devanagari script

अपवर्गप्रदं चापि शिवज्ञानप्रदं परम् । शिवाशिवप्रीतिकरं शिवभक्तिविवर्द्धनम्

Transliteration

apavargapradaṃ cāpi śivajñānapradaṃ param | śivāśivaprītikaraṃ śivabhaktivivarddhanam

Translation

它亦赐予阿婆伐尔迦（apavarga，究竟解脱），并赐至上的湿婆之智。它令湿婆与敬奉祂的吉祥圣众欢喜，并增长对湿婆的奉爱（bhakti）。

Word by Word

• अपवर्गप्रदम्: granting liberation
• अपवर्गप्रदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपवर्ग + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अपवर्गं प्रददाति/प्रदं); विशेषणम् (आख्यानम्—पूर्वश्लोकान्वय)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• अपि: also
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (also/even)

• शिवज्ञानप्रदम्: granting knowledge of Śiva
• शिवज्ञानप्रदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + ज्ञान + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य ज्ञानं प्रदं); विशेषणम्

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• शिवाशिवप्रीतिकरम्: causing favor of Śiva and (removal of) inauspiciousness / pleasing Śiva and dispelling evil
• शिवाशिवप्रीतिकरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + अशिव + प्रीति + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—(शिव-अशिव)-द्वन्द्व (शिवाशिव) ततः तत्पुरुष (शिवाशिवयोः प्रीतिं करोति); विशेषणम्

• शिवभक्तिविवर्द्धनम्: increasing devotion to Śiva
• शिवभक्तिविवर्द्धनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + भक्ति + विवर्द्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शिवभक्तेः विवर्द्धनम्); विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Elevates kathā-śravaṇa from bhoga-phala to apavarga (mokṣa) and śiva-jñāna, aligning with Siddhānta’s emphasis on Śiva’s grace as the decisive liberating factor.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse praises a Shaiva means (practice/teaching) as both liberating (apavarga) and illuminating, because it culminates in Shiva-jñāna and ripens pure devotion, which Shaiva Siddhanta treats as a direct support for grace (anugraha) leading to moksha.

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

By emphasizing Shiva-bhakti and Shiva-jñāna together, the verse aligns with Saguna worship—such as Linga-upāsanā—where loving devotion and disciplined reverence mature into experiential understanding of Shiva’s supreme reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steady Shaiva sādhana that increases bhakti—classically, japa of the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") along with Linga worship—done with the intent of attaining Shiva-jñāna and liberation.