Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

रुद्ररूपेण प्रलयं करिष्ये कार्यमुत्तमम् । चतुर्वर्णमयं लोकं तत्सर्वैराश्रमै ध्रुवम्

Transliteration

rudrarūpeṇa pralayaṃ kariṣye kāryamuttamam | caturvarṇamayaṃ lokaṃ tatsarvairāśramai dhruvam

Translation

“我将化现为鲁陀罗之形，成就毁灭之劫（pralaya）——至上的神圣事业。并将确立由四种瓦尔那（varṇa）构成的世间，连同一切阿湿罗摩（āśrama），作为恒常的法度。”

Word by Word

• रुद्र-रूपेण: by the form of Rudra
• रुद्र-रूपेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रुद्रस्य रूपम्)

• प्रलयम्: dissolution
• प्रलयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• करिष्ये: I shall do / I shall bring about
• करिष्ये: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कार्यम्: task, act
• कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृ-धातोः कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent, supreme
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कार्यम्)

• चतुर्-वर्ण-मयम्: consisting of the four varṇas
• चतुर्-वर्ण-मयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (चतुर्वर्णः) कर्मधारयः + (चतुर्वर्णमयः) तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् (लोकम्)

• लोकम्: world
• लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देश/प्रदर्शक (deictic)

• सर्वैः: by/with all
• सर्वैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (आश्रमैः)

• आश्रमैः: with the āśramas (stages of life)
• आश्रमैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ध्रुवम्: firmly, certainly / fixed
• ध्रुवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative) / अथवा विशेषणम् (लोकम्)

Speaker

Lord Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya (dissolution) and dharma-vyavasthā (ordering of varṇa-āśrama)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It presents Rudra as the divine power of dissolution that restores cosmic balance, and it frames social-spiritual order (varṇa–āśrama dharma) as an ordained structure meant to support right living and gradual purification toward liberation under Shiva’s supreme governance.

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

Rudra here is Saguna Shiva—the manifest Lord who performs cosmic functions like pralaya. Linga worship honors Shiva as both Nirguna (transcendent) and Saguna (active as Rudra), reminding devotees that dissolution is also grace that removes impurity and resets dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined dharma aligned to one’s āśrama along with Shiva-upāsanā—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and reverent remembrance of Rudra as the purifier who dissolves inner bondage (pāśa).