Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

सतीप्राप्तिविषये ब्रह्मरुद्रसंवादः | The Brahmā–Śiva Dialogue on Attaining Satī

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याज्ञप्तोहमीशेन लोकाचारपरेण ह । संस्मरं नारदं त्वां च मरीच्यदीन्सुतांस्तथा

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ityājñaptohamīśena lokācārapareṇa ha | saṃsmaraṃ nāradaṃ tvāṃ ca marīcyadīnsutāṃstathā

Translation

梵天说道：“我奉主宰之命——那维护世间正当行持之主——遂即启行，心中忆念纳罗陀、忆念你，并同样忆念摩利支等诸仙之子。”

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• आज्ञप्तः: having been commanded
• आज्ञप्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + ज्ञप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि (one who was commanded)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: एकवचन, प्रथमा (1st); सर्वनाम

• ईशेन: by the Lord
• ईशेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• लोकाचारपरेण: devoted to worldly custom
• लोकाचारपरेण: Karana-anvaya (करणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोकाचारपर (प्रातिपदिक: लोक + आचार + पर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण (ईशेन); तत्पुरुष (लोकाचारः परः यस्य/लोकाचार-परः)

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• संस्मरन्: remembering
• संस्मरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि

• नारदम्: Nārada
• नारदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: एकवचन, द्वितीया (2nd); सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• मरीच्यादीन्: Marīci and others
• मरीच्यादीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरीचि (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समाहार/समुच्चयार्थे ("Marīci and others"); तत्पुरुष (आदि-समास)

• सुतान्: sons
• सुतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Narada
• Marici

FAQs

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

It highlights obedience to Īśvara (Lord Śiva) as a form of dharma: even Brahmā acts in alignment with Śiva’s command, showing that cosmic order and spiritual progress are rooted in surrender to the Lord’s will.

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

By calling Śiva “Īśa” who safeguards lokācāra, the verse points to Saguna Śiva as the personal Lord who guides beings through disciplined conduct—an essential foundation for ritual worship (including Liṅga-pūjā) and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The key takeaway is smaraṇa (remembrance): mentally recalling Śiva and the guru-sage tradition (like Nārada) before action—akin to beginning worship with mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and sankalpa grounded in dharma.