Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 27

मेना-हिमालयसंवादः

Menā’s Counsel to Himālaya; Response to Slander of Śiva

Devanagari script

मूर्तयोऽष्टौ च याः प्रोक्ता मदीयाः परमर्षयः । तास्सर्वा उपकाराय न तु स्वार्थाय तत्स्फुटम्

Transliteration

mūrtayo'ṣṭau ca yāḥ proktā madīyāḥ paramarṣayaḥ | tāssarvā upakārāya na tu svārthāya tatsphuṭam

Translation

诸位至上仙圣啊，所宣说为“属于我”的八种形相，皆为利益众生；分明并非出于任何自利之意。

Word by Word

• मूर्तयः: forms, manifestations
• मूर्तयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (संख्यावाचक), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; ‘मूर्तयः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• याः: which
• याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• प्रोक्ताः: declared, spoken of
• प्रोक्ताः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; ‘याः’/‘मूर्तयः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• मदीयाः: my
• मदीयाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; स्वामित्ववाचक-विशेषण (possessive adjective)

• परमर्षयः: the supreme sages
• परमर्षयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (परमा ऋषयः)

• ताः: those (forms)
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• उपकाराय: for helping / for the benefit
• उपकाराय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Beneficiary-purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th case/Dative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• तु: but
• तु: Vyatireka (व्यतिरेक/Contrast)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषण निपात (adversative particle)

• स्वार्थाय: for (one’s) own interest
• स्वार्थाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th case/Dative), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Anuvāda (अनुवाद/Resumptive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्फुटम्: clearly
• स्फुटम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्फुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva’s manifested forms (aṣṭamūrti) arise out of grace for the upliftment of souls (paśu), guiding them beyond bondage (pāśa) toward Shiva (Pati), not out of any need or self-interest.

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

It supports Saguna worship as a compassionate means: Shiva accepts approachable forms—including the Liṅga—for devotees’ benefit, so that concentration, devotion, and right understanding can mature into liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt worship done for “upakāra” (purification and welfare): daily Liṅga-pūjā with the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering water and bhasma with humility, dedicating the merit for all beings.