Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

नारदप्रश्नवर्णन (Nāradapraśna-varṇana) — “Account of Nārada’s Inquiry”

Devanagari script

संतुष्टश्च स्वभक्तेभ्यः परेभ्यश्च महेश्वरः । किं फलं यच्छति विधे तत्सर्वं कथयस्व मे

Transliteration

saṃtuṣṭaśca svabhaktebhyaḥ parebhyaśca maheśvaraḥ | kiṃ phalaṃ yacchati vidhe tatsarvaṃ kathayasva me

Translation

当大天（Mahādeva）欢喜之时——无论对自己的奉献者，还是对其他众生——他赐予何等果报？噢，造物主（梵天 Brahmā），请将这一切都告诉我。

Word by Word

• संतुष्टः: satisfied
• संतुष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संतुष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम्+तुष्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle), 'satisfied'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्वभक्तेभ्यः: from (his) own devotees
• स्वभक्तेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), बहुवचन; समास: स्वस्य भक्ताः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• परेभ्यः: from others
• परेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महेश्वरः: Maheshvara
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समास: महा + ईश्वर

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; प्रश्न-सर्वनाम

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• यच्छति: gives
• यच्छति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; धातु-आदेश: दा → यच्छ (यच्छति)

• विधे: O Vidhi (Brahmā)
• विधे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; संबोधन (vocative)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• कथयस्व: tell (please)
• कथयस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु; णिच्)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (6/4), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; here दत्त-सम्प्रदानार्थे (to me)

Speaker

Narada (inquiring from Brahma/Vidhata in the Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa dialogue context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maheshvara
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as the universal bestower of grace: when pleased, He can grant both worldly fruits and the highest good—His anugraha (saving grace)—not limited only to an “insider” group, but responsive to sincerity and merit.

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

It frames Saguna Śiva (Mahēśvara) as approachable and responsive: through Liṅga-worship, mantra, and devotion, the devotee seeks to please Him, after which He grants appropriate fruits—bhoga (enjoyment/boons) and, ultimately, the path toward mokṣa through grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is to “please Mahādeva” through bhakti and upāsanā—especially Liṅga-pūjā with mantra-japa (notably the Pañcākṣarī, Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with Shaiva marks like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where taught in the broader text.