Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

प्रकृतितत्त्व-विचारः / Inquiry into Prakṛti (Nature/Śakti) and Śiva’s Transcendence

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । पार्वत्यास्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा महोतिकरणे रतः । सुविहस्य प्रसन्नात्मा महेशो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | pārvatyāstadvacaḥ śrutvā mahotikaraṇe rataḥ | suvihasya prasannātmā maheśo vākyamabravīt

Translation

梵天说道：听闻帕尔瓦蒂的这番话后，摩诃沙——恒常致力于成就至上善利者——温和一笑；以澄明安宁之心，说出了如下言辞。

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पार्वत्याः: of Pārvatī
• पार्वत्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying वचः)

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): ‘having heard’

• महोतिकरणे: in the great undertaking
• महोतिकरणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोति-करण (प्रातिपदिक; components: महोति + करण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative ‘in/at the great undertaking’

• रतः: engaged
• रतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक; from रम् धातु, past participial adjective)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कृदन्त (क्त) used adjectivally: ‘engaged’

• सुविहस्य: having laughed heartily
• सुविहस्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सु-वि-हस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive): ‘having laughed well/heartily’

• प्रसन्नात्मा: one whose self is serene
• प्रसन्नात्मा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; components: प्रसन्न + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying महेशः)

• महेशः: Maheśa
• महेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक; from महा + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva as Pati (the liberating Lord) whose speech arises from compassion and the intent to grant the highest good—pointing to grace (anugraha) as central to liberation in Shaiva Siddhānta.

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

Śiva’s gentle smile and calm speech present him in a personal (saguṇa) mode—approachable to devotees—through which teachings, vows, and worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā) are transmitted.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies cultivating prasāda (inner serenity) before receiving Śiva’s instruction—practically supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and calm, attentive listening (śravaṇa) to Śaiva teachings.