Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37

नारद–हिमालयसंवादवर्णनम्

Nārada and Himālaya: Discourse on Pārvatī’s Signs and Destiny

Devanagari script

स कथं ध्यान मार्गस्थः परब्रह्मार्पितं मनः । भ्रंशयिष्यति देवर्षे तत्र मे संशयो महान्

Transliteration

sa kathaṃ dhyāna mārgasthaḥ parabrahmārpitaṃ manaḥ | bhraṃśayiṣyati devarṣe tatra me saṃśayo mahān

Translation

噢，神圣的仙圣啊，安住于禅观之道者，怎能使已奉献于至上梵（湿婆）的心念退失动摇？对此，我的疑惑甚大。

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• ध्यान-मार्ग-स्थः: situated on the path of meditation
• ध्यान-मार्ग-स्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः: ध्यानमार्गे स्थः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पर-ब्रह्म-अर्पितम्: offered/dedicated to the Supreme Brahman
• पर-ब्रह्म-अर्पितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्पित (कृदन्त; अर्प् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; क्त (PPP) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (मनः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भ्रंशयिष्यति: will cause to fall / will disturb
• भ्रंशयिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रंशय् (धातु; causative of भ्रंश्)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative)

• देवर्षे: O divine sage
• देवर्षे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• तत्र: there / in that matter
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महान्: great
• महान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Parvati

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the Shaiva principle that when the mind is truly offered to Parabrahman Śiva through steady dhyāna, it gains inner firmness; Parvatī’s doubt emphasizes the ideal of unwavering one-pointed devotion and meditation leading toward liberation.

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

In practice, the mind is steadied by focusing on Saguna Śiva—often through Liṅga worship—so that devotion matures into absorption in Parabrahman; the verse points to this transition where dedicated worship stabilizes the mind against distraction.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests sustained dhyāna with the mind consciously ‘offered’ to Śiva—supported by Shaiva disciplines such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Liṅga-pūjā, and contemplative remembrance to prevent mental slipping.