Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34

देवगुरुप्रेषणम्

Himālaya Mission of the Gods’ Preceptor / The Gods Send Their Guru

Devanagari script

करे स्फटिकमालाञ्च शालग्रामं गले दधत् । जपन्नाम हरेर्भक्त्या साधुवेषधरौ द्विजः

Transliteration

kare sphaṭikamālāñca śālagrāmaṃ gale dadhat | japannāma harerbhaktyā sādhuveṣadharau dvijaḥ

Translation

他手持水晶念珠，颈佩娑罗伽罗摩（Śālagrāma）；那位二次生者外披圣行苦行者之相，却以虔敬不断诵念哈利（Hari）之名。

Word by Word

• करे: in the hand
• करे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location)

• स्फटिक-माला: a crystal rosary
• स्फटिक-माला: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्फटिक (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शालग्रामम्: a Śālagrāma stone
• शालग्रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म

• गले: on the neck
• गले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• दधत्: wearing/holding
• दधत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमा-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; कर्तरि प्रयोग (acting as doer)

• जपन्: chanting
• जपन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमा-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; कर्तरि

• नाम: the name
• नाम: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (possessor)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करण (means)

• साधु-वेष-धरौ: (two) wearing the garb of holy men
• साधु-वेष-धरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक) + वेष (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• द्विजः: a brāhmaṇa (twice-born)
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्ता

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: hareḥ nāma

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It highlights the contrast between external religious markers (mālā, Śālagrāma, sādhu-dress) and the inner state; the narrative context commonly uses such description to evaluate authenticity of devotion and purity of intent—key for grace (anugraha) and liberation in Shaiva teaching.

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

By depicting devotion expressed through japa and sacred emblems, it prepares the Shaiva point that outward forms are supports, but true Saguna worship of Shiva (including Linga-upāsanā) must be grounded in inner sincerity, right conduct, and single-pointed devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular nāma-japa using a mālā is implied; the verse also cautions that wearing sacred items is secondary to genuine bhakti and disciplined inner practice.