Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

मुनिप्रश्नवर्णनम्

Description of the Sages’ Questions

Devanagari script

व्यास । सूतोक्तमिति तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य द्विजसत्तमाः । पप्रच्छुस्तत्सुसंवादं कुतूहलसमन्विताः

Transliteration

vyāsa | sūtoktamiti tadvākyamākarṇya dvijasattamāḥ | papracchustatsusaṃvādaṃ kutūhalasamanvitāḥ

Translation

毗耶娑说：听到那被称为苏多所说之语后，最上等的两次生圣贤满怀求知之心，便再三发问，愿那殊胜吉祥的对话得以展开宣说。

Word by Word

• व्यास: Vyāsa
• व्यास: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे नामनिर्देश (speaker tag)

• सूत-उक्तम्: (it is) said by Sūta
• सूत-उक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त; √vac (धातु) → क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त ‘उक्त’ = said; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः ‘सूतस्य उक्तम्’

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

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• वाक्यम्: statement/speech
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√kṛ/√karṇ? (धातु) → ākarṇya (क्त्वा/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया ‘having heard’

• द्विज-सत्तमाः: the best of the twice-born (sages/brāhmaṇas)
• द्विज-सत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक; superlative)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘द्विजानां सत्तमाः’ (श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणाः)

• पप्रच्छुः: asked
• पप्रच्छुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prach (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• सु-संवादम्: the excellent dialogue
• सु-संवादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + saṃvāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘सु’ उपपदपूर्वकः गुणवाचकः—‘सुन्दरः संवादः’

• कुतूहल-समन्विताः: endowed with curiosity
• कुतूहल-समन्विताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kutūhala (प्रातिपदिक) + samanvita (कृदन्त; सम्+√i (धातु) → क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘समन्वित’ = endowed; ‘कुतूहलेन समन्विताः’

Speaker

Vyāsa

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• Sūta
• Sages (Dvija-sattamāḥ)

FAQs

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

It highlights the traditional Shaiva method of receiving liberating knowledge: humble inquiry (praśna) by qualified sages and the unfolding of sacred dialogue that leads the listener toward Shiva-tattva and right understanding.

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

Before rituals like Liṅga-worship are detailed, the Purana establishes the authority of transmission—sages ask, and the narrator reveals. This verse sets the stage for teachings that later include Saguna Shiva worship and its inner meaning.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa (devotional listening) and sat-saṅga—approaching a competent teacher, hearing Shaiva scripture attentively, and inquiring properly, which prepares the mind for mantra-japa and Shiva-upāsanā.