Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 48

विष्णोर्दर्शनं स्तुतिश्च

Viṣṇu’s Manifestation and Brahmā’s Hymn

Devanagari script

विष्णुरुवाच । विधे स्मर पुरोक्तं यद्वचनं शंकरेण च । प्रार्थितेन यदावाभ्यामुत्पन्नाभ्यां तदिच्छया

Transliteration

viṣṇuruvāca | vidhe smara puroktaṃ yadvacanaṃ śaṃkareṇa ca | prārthitena yadāvābhyāmutpannābhyāṃ tadicchayā

Translation

毗湿奴说道：“造物主梵天啊，当忆念先前商羯罗所说之言——那是在被祈请时所宣说，并且依其自身意愿，于我等二者既已出生之后而告示的。”

Word by Word

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विधे: O Brahmā (Vidhe)
• विधे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; (विधि = ब्रह्मा)

• स्मर: remember
• स्मर: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुरा-उक्तम्: previously said
• पुरा-उक्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय) + उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘said’; ‘purā’ = formerly (adverbial qualifier)

• यत्-वचनम्: the statement which
• यत्-वचनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुषः (relative: ‘the statement which…’)

• शंकरेण: by Śaṅkara
• शंकरेण: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• प्रार्थितेन: by (his) request / when requested
• प्रार्थितेन: Karana (करण/Instrument-cause)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-अर्थ् (धातु) → प्रार्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘requested/entreated’ (instrumental: ‘by the one who requested’ / ‘when requested’)

• यत्: when/which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/relative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्ययवत् (relative particle introducing clause)

• आवाभ्याम्: by us two
• आवाभ्याम्: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन

• उत्पन्नाभ्याम्: (we) having been born / arisen
• उत्पन्नाभ्याम्: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्-पद् (धातु) → उत्पन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘having arisen/been born’ (agreeing with implied dual ‘we two’)

• तत्-इच्छया: by that will
• तत्-इच्छया: Karana (करण/Instrument-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (his/that will)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmogonic emergence (utpatti) of Brahmā-Viṣṇu alluded

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It establishes Śiva (Śaṅkara) as the decisive spiritual authority whose spoken word guides even Brahmā and Viṣṇu—highlighting Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on aligning one’s will with Pati (the Lord) through remembrance and obedience.

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

By treating Śiva’s earlier instruction as binding, the verse supports Saguna devotion: the devotee follows Śiva’s expressed guidance (often given in the Purāṇa as worship-rules and vows), which commonly culminates in Linga-oriented reverence and disciplined bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate practice is smaraṇa—recollection of Śiva’s teaching—applied as daily contemplative remembrance; in Shaiva practice this naturally pairs with japa of Śiva’s names (especially the Pañcākṣarī) and adherence to Śaiva observances taught by Śiva.