Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4

शिवतत्त्ववर्णनम् (Śiva-tattva-varṇana) — “Description/Exposition of the Principle of Śiva”

Devanagari script

तं दृष्ट्वा तादृशं देवं सवामं परमेश्वरम् । तुष्टाव पुनरिष्टाभिर्वाग्भिर्विष्णुर्मया सह

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā tādṛśaṃ devaṃ savāmaṃ parameśvaram | tuṣṭāva punariṣṭābhirvāgbhirviṣṇurmayā saha

Translation

见到那位神以如此奇妙之相显现——至上主帕拉梅湿伐罗，左侧伴随神圣的夏克蒂——毗湿奴与我再次以珍爱而精择之辞赞颂祂。

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव: ‘having seen’

• तादृशम्: such (of that form)
• तादृशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण देवं इति

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स-वामम्: with (his) left side/with Umā
• स-वामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सह-समास), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण परमेश्वरम् इति

• परम-ईश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord
• परम-ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (परमः ईश्वरः), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तुष्टाव: praised
• तुष्टाव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘again’

• इष्टाभिः: with desired/pleasing (words)
• इष्टाभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण वाक्भिः इति

• वाक्भिः: with words
• वाक्भिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मया: with me
• मया: Sahakārī/ सह (सह-कर्ता/सहयोग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सहार्थे (in sense of accompaniment)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable: ‘together with’)

Speaker

Brahma (narrating within the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa context, as he says 'with me')

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Shakti
• Parameshvara
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that even the greatest cosmic powers (Viṣṇu and Brahmā) approach Parameśvara through humble praise, affirming Shaiva Siddhānta’s view that Shiva (Pati) is the Supreme bestower of grace, and devotion (stuti) is a direct means to receive it.

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

By describing Parameśvara in a perceivable form “with Śakti on the left,” the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā—worship of Shiva with attributes and iconography. Such worship culminates in reverence to the Liṅga as the abiding sign of the same Supreme, approached through praise, mantra, and offering.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is stotra-japa: reciting Shiva-stuti with focused mind and devotion. In Shaiva practice this naturally pairs with Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple offerings (water, bilva), done in the spirit of heartfelt, “iṣṭa” words.