Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

पूर्वगतिवर्णनम् (Pūrvagati-varṇana) — “Description of the Prior Course / Earlier Lineage Account”

Devanagari script

प्रारब्धं प्रोच्यते सैव तन्नामानि ह्यनेकशः । शिवेच्छया भवत्येव नात्र कार्या विचारणा

Transliteration

prārabdhaṃ procyate saiva tannāmāni hyanekaśaḥ | śivecchayā bhavatyeva nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Translation

唯此称为“prārabdha”（已发动之宿业、既定之命），亦以诸多名相而宣说。它唯由湿婆（Śiva）之意志而成——于此不必再作争辩。

Word by Word

• prārabdham: the begun (destiny/undertaking)
• prārabdham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prārabdha (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √rabdh/√rabh)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle used substantively

• procyate: is said/declared
• procyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु) with pra-
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Passive voice (कर्मणि प्रयोग)

• sā: she/that (same)
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphatic

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), used as adjectival prefix to next word; (prātipadika in compound-like usage)

• nāmāni: names
• nāmāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), causal/emphatic

• anekaśaḥ: in many ways/many times
• anekaśaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anekaśas (अव्यय; aneka + śas)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• śiva-icchayā: by Śiva’s will
• śiva-icchayā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + icchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: śivasya icchā = śivecchā

• bhavati: happens/is
• bhavati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: certainly
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphatic

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• atra: here/in this matter
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• kāryā: to be done/necessary
• kāryā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective agreeing with vicāraṇā

• vicāraṇā: deliberation/inquiry
• vicāraṇā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vicāraṇā (प्रातिपदिक; from √car with vi-)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that prārabdha (the portion of karma already fructifying) functions under Śiva’s supreme governance, encouraging surrender (śaraṇāgati) and trust in divine order rather than anxious argumentation.

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

By affirming Śiva’s will as the decisive power behind events, it supports Saguna worship—devotion to the Linga as the accessible form of the Lord whose grace can steady the devotee while prārabdha unfolds.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with a surrendering attitude, accepting prārabdha while seeking Śiva’s grace for inner freedom.