Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

देवीयोगनिद्रास्तुतिḥ तथा चण्डिकायाः प्रादुर्भावः | Hymn to Devī Yogānidrā and the Manifestation of Caṇḍikā

Devanagari script

तपश्चरति भूतेश एक एवाविकल्पकः । अपत्नीको निर्विकारो न द्वितीयां समीहते

Transliteration

tapaścarati bhūteśa eka evāvikalpakaḥ | apatnīko nirvikāro na dvitīyāṃ samīhate

Translation

众生之主（湿婆）修行苦行——独自一人，心无分歧，亦无他择。无配偶而不变，他甚至不愿求得第二位（伴侣）。

Word by Word

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; object used with √चर् in sense ‘to practice’

• चरति: practices, performs
• चरति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भूतेश: O Lord of beings
• भूतेश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भूतानाम् ईशः)

• एकः: alone, single
• एकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; subject-qualifier

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — emphasis

• अविकल्पकः: without alternative, unwavering
• अविकल्पकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-विकल्पक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; negated adjective (a-privative)

• अपत्नीकाḥ: without a wife
• अपत्नीकाḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-पत्नीका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; a-privative ‘without wife’ (form in text: अपत्नीको)

• निर्विकारः: unchanging, without modification
• निर्विकारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• द्वितीयाम्: a second (one)
• द्वितीयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘a second (woman)’ as object

• समीहते: desires, seeks
• समीहते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-ईह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as the Pati (Supreme Lord) who is nirvikāra (unchanging) and avikalpaka (free from divided intention), teaching that liberation-oriented tapas requires single-pointedness and freedom from craving.

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

The Liṅga signifies Śiva’s transcendence and steadiness—form that points beyond form. Meditating on the Liṅga aligns the devotee with Śiva’s avikalpaka nature, even while approaching Him through saguna worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt ekāgratā (one-pointed meditation) with japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and contemplative focus on Śiva as nirvikāra, reducing restless desire and inner alternatives.