Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41

दक्षयज्ञोत्तरवृत्तान्तः

Post–Dakṣa-Yajña Developments and the Appeal to Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

मुने तुभ्यं प्रवोचंतं पृच्छते ज्ञानमुत्तमम् । कुशासने सूपविष्टं सर्वेषां शृण्वतां सताम्

Transliteration

mune tubhyaṃ pravocaṃtaṃ pṛcchate jñānamuttamam | kuśāsane sūpaviṣṭaṃ sarveṣāṃ śṛṇvatāṃ satām

Translation

噢牟尼啊，当你正在开示之时，有人向你请问至上的智慧——当你端正安坐于库沙草座之上，而一切贤善之人皆专心谛听之际。

Word by Word

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• तुभ्यम्: to you
• तुभ्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• प्रवोचन्तम्: (you) who are speaking/expounding
• प्रवोचन्तम्: Karma (कर्म/object of ‘pṛcchate’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+vac (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि कृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• पृच्छते: asks; inquires
• पृच्छते: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• उत्तमम्: supreme; excellent
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with ज्ञानम्

• कुश-आसने: on a kuśa-seat
• कुश-आसने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśa (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound (समास): Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘kuśānām āsanam’; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• सु-उपविष्टम्: well-seated
• सु-उपविष्टम्: Karma (कर्म/object-description)
• Type: Verb
• Root: su (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + upa+viś (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त/क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); with intensifier सु-; agrees with implied ‘tvām’/‘pravocantam’ as descriptive

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• शृण्वताम्: of (those) listening
• शृण्वताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि कृदन्त/शतृ), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); used as ‘of those who are listening’

• सताम्: of the good/virtuous (people)
• सताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It highlights the sanctity of receiving “uttama-jñāna” (supreme knowledge) through disciplined teaching and attentive listening (śravaṇa) in the company of the virtuous—an essential Shaiva means for inner purification and orientation toward Pati (Shiva).

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

Though it does not name the Liṅga directly, it establishes the correct devotional context for Shiva-kathā: a pure setting, a qualified speaker, and receptive listeners—conditions traditionally recommended before hearing the glories and worship-methods of Saguna Shiva and the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain a sanctified posture and setting for scripture-hearing—symbolized by sitting on a kuśa seat—and practice focused listening (śravaṇa). This can be paired with silent japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) before and after the discourse.