Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 2

सत्यप्रतिज्ञा-तपःसंवादः

Pārvatī’s Vow of Truth and the Dialogue on Her Tapas

Devanagari script

मनसा वचसा साक्षात्कर्म्मणा पतिभावतः । सत्यं ब्रवीमि नोऽसत्यं वृतो वै शंकरो या

Transliteration

manasā vacasā sākṣātkarmmaṇā patibhāvataḥ | satyaṃ bravīmi no'satyaṃ vṛto vai śaṃkaro yā

Translation

以我之心、以我之言，并以我亲行之业——怀着贞顺奉夫之心——我说的是真实而非虚妄：我所拣择的，确是商羯罗（湿婆）。

Word by Word

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• वचसा: by speech
• वचसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रत्यक्षार्थक (directly)

• कर्मणा: by action
• कर्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• पति-भावतः: from the standpoint of being (my) husband
• पति-भावतः: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; तसिल्-अर्थे (from the standpoint of); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पतेः भावः)

• सत्यम्: truth; truly
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (truly)

• ब्रवीमि: I speak
• ब्रवीमि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नः: not
• नः: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात; अत्र अवग्रहपूर्वक (नः = न)

• असत्यम्: untruth
• असत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• वृतः: chosen, accepted
• वृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (P.P.P.), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थ-निपात

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• या: who (she)
• या: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative)

Speaker

Pārvatī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes integrated sincerity—mind, speech, and action aligned in truth—as the foundation of Śiva-bhakti. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, such truthful devotion turns the pashu (bound soul) toward Pati (Śiva), weakening pasha (bondage) through unwavering resolve.

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

By openly declaring Śaṅkara as the chosen Lord, the verse supports Saguna Śiva-upāsanā—personal devotion to Śiva as the gracious Pati. This inner choice naturally expresses itself outwardly as steady Linga worship, where the devotee’s truthfulness and single-pointed commitment become the real offering.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tri-karaṇa-śuddhi (purity of thought, word, and deed) while doing Śiva-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and offering simple Linga upacāras with a truthful vow-like intention.