Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

धन्या धन्या महामाया शांभवी मुनिसत्तमाः । तद्गतिं न हि पश्यंति विष्णुब्रह्मादयोपि हि

Transliteration

dhanyā dhanyā mahāmāyā śāṃbhavī munisattamāḥ | tadgatiṃ na hi paśyaṃti viṣṇubrahmādayopi hi

Translation

噢，至上圣贤！吉祥，吉祥！那伟大的摩耶——商婆毗（即湿婆之神力）实为有福；因为即便毗湿奴、梵天等诸神，也不能洞见她的行迹与运作之法。

Word by Word

• धन्या: blessed
• धन्या: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषण (fortunate/blessed)

• धन्या: truly blessed
• धन्या: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• महामाया: Great Māyā
• महामाया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘महती माया’ (कर्मधारय)

• शांभवी: Śāmbhavī
• शांभवी: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाम्भवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; शिवसम्बन्धिनी (epithet: of Śambhu/Śiva)

• मुनिसत्तमाः: the best of sages
• मुनिसत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि-सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘मुनीनां सत्तमाः’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• तत्-गतिम्: her course/true state
• तत्-गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘तस्य गतिः’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• पश्यन्ति: see
• पश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• विष्णु-ब्रह्म-आदयः: even Viṣṇu, Brahmā and others
• विष्णु-ब्रह्म-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘विष्णु-ब्रह्म-आदयः’ = Viṣṇu, Brahmā, etc. (समाहार/समुच्चयार्थ; ‘आदि’ suffix-like)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चय निपात (also/even)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Mahāmāyā as Śiva’s śakti that governs manifestation and concealment; her workings are subtle enough that even cosmic deities cannot fully fathom them, implying liberation requires Śiva’s grace and right knowledge rather than mere worldly power.

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

By calling Māyā “Śāmbhavī,” the text points to Śiva as the Lord of Māyā; worship of the Liṅga (Saguna symbol of the Nirguna Reality) is presented as a direct means to receive Śiva’s anugraha (grace) and cross beyond Māyā’s deluding movement.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady Śiva-upāsanā—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with Liṅga-pūjā and contemplative discernment—so that the mind is not carried away by Māyā’s unseen course.