Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

देवस्तुतिः (Devastuti) — Hymn/Praise of the Devas

Devanagari script

नमो वेदान्तवेद्याय मार्गातीताय ते नमः । नमोगुणस्वरूपाय गुणिने गुणवर्जिते

Transliteration

namo vedāntavedyāya mārgātītāya te namaḥ | namoguṇasvarūpāya guṇine guṇavarjite

Translation

顶礼于汝：唯由吠檀多而可证知，超越一切道路者——顶礼于汝。顶礼于汝：为诸德性（guṇa）之体，为诸德性之主，而又全然超越诸德性者。

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपातवत् प्रयोगः; नमस्कारार्थक-अव्यय (salutation particle, governs dative)

• वेदान्तवेद्याय: to the one knowable through Vedānta
• वेदान्तवेद्याय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vedānta + vedya (√vid विद् धातु, यत्-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन (Masculine, Dative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वेदान्तेन वेद्यः (knowable by Vedānta)

• मार्गातीताय: to the one beyond all paths
• मार्गातीताय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mārga + atīta (√i इ धातु, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: मार्गम् अतीतः (beyond the path)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी/षष्ठी, एकवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी (to you)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नमस्कारार्थक-अव्यय (salutation)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नमस्कारार्थक-अव्यय (salutation)

• गुणस्वरूपाय: to the one whose nature is (all) guṇas
• गुणस्वरूपाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa + svarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: गुणानां स्वरूपः (whose nature is the guṇas / essence of guṇas)

• गुणिने: to the possessor of qualities
• गुणिने: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन (Masculine, Dative, Singular)

• गुणवर्जिते: to the one free from guṇas
• गुणवर्जिते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa + varjita (√vṛj/√varj वर्ज् धातु, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: गुणैः वर्जितः (devoid of guṇas)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: namo vedāntavedyāya mārgātītāya te namaḥ | namoguṇasvarūpāya guṇine guṇavarjite

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It praises Shiva as the supreme Pati: grasped through Vedāntic realization, yet ultimately beyond all limited methods, while also being the source and ruler of the three guṇas—thus pointing to liberation by knowing Shiva as both immanent and transcendent.

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

The verse supports Saguna worship (such as the Śiva-liṅga) by affirming Shiva’s lordship over manifest qualities (guṇas), while also reminding devotees that the same Shiva is guṇātīta—so the form leads the mind toward the formless, culminating in moksha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as guṇātīta while chanting the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before the liṅga; offer bhasma and practice inner detachment from sattva-rajas-tamas, seeing all qualities as resting in Shiva yet not binding Him.