Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 64

नारदस्य विष्णूपदेशवर्णनम् — Nārada and Viṣṇu: Instruction after Delusion

Devanagari script

अद्यप्रभृति यत्नेन सावधानो यथाविधि । साम्बं सदाशिवं भक्त्या भज नित्यं महेश्वरम्

Transliteration

adyaprabhṛti yatnena sāvadhāno yathāvidhi | sāmbaṃ sadāśivaṃ bhaktyā bhaja nityaṃ maheśvaram

Translation

自今日起，当以勤勉之力，谨慎依仪轨而行；日日以虔敬礼拜大自在天（Mahēśvara）——与乌玛（Umā）常相合一之常住湿婆（Sadāśiva，Sāmba）。

Word by Word

• अद्य-प्रभृति: from today onward
• अद्य-प्रभृति: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative sense: time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय) + प्रभृति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal indeclinable): 'from today onwards'

• यत्नेन: with effort
• यत्नेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; instrumental of means

• सावधानः: attentive
• सावधानः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—implied 'you')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सावधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the implied 'त्वम्')

• यथा-विधि: as prescribed
• यथा-विधि: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb): 'according to rule'

• साम्बम्: Sāmba (Śiva with Umā)
• साम्बम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेष्य (object)

• सदा-शिवम्: Sadāśiva
• सदा-शिवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदा (अव्यय) + शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; instrumental of manner

• भज: worship
• भज: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण): accusative used adverbially 'always'

• महेश्वरम्: Mahēśvara
• महेश्वरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahmā (instructing within the Sṛṣṭi narrative of the Rudrasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes nitya-bhajana ‘from today onward’ as a vrata-like life-turning commitment; highlights Sāmba-Sadāśiva as the complete refuge (Śiva with Śakti) for seekers.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation-oriented life begins with a firm resolve—daily, attentive, rule-guided devotion to Maheshvara—because steadfast bhakti to Sadaśiva purifies the soul (paśu) and turns it toward the Lord (Pati).

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

By naming Sadaśiva as “Sāmba” (with Śakti), the verse points to Saguna worship—approaching Shiva in a gracious, worshipable form, commonly honored through the Śiva-liṅga with proper vidhi (offerings, mantra, and reverence).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies nitya-śiva-pūjā done yathāvidhi—regular worship with devotion, typically supported by japa of Shiva’s mantras (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined attentiveness in practice.