Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

शङ्खचूडदूतागमनम् — The Arrival of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Envoy

and Praise of Śiva

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्यादिबहुवार्त्तां च श्रुतिस्मृतिपरां शुभाम् । प्रोवाच शंकरस्तस्मै बोधयन् ज्ञानमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | ityādibahuvārttāṃ ca śrutismṛtiparāṃ śubhām | provāca śaṃkarastasmai bodhayan jñānamuttamam

Translation

萨那特库玛罗说道：如是，听闻了许多依于《闻传》（Śruti）与《忆传》（Smṛti）的吉祥教诲之后，商羯罗（Śaṅkara）便对他说法，开示无上智慧——引导灵魂趋向对湿婆（Śiva）这位主宰（Pati）与解脱之至上领悟。

Word by Word

• sanat-kumāraḥ: Sanatkumāra
• sanat-kumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanat (प्रातिपदिक) + kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: 'ever-young' + 'youth' (proper name)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti-ādi-bahu-vārttām: many statements beginning with ‘iti’, etc.
• iti-ādi-bahu-vārttām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iti (अव्यय) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + vārttā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समास: iti-ādi = 'beginning with “iti”' (अव्ययीभाव-like member) + bahu-vārttā = 'many accounts' (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष); whole as object of provāca

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• śruti-smṛti-parām: grounded in Śruti and Smṛti
• śruti-smṛti-parām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śruti (प्रातिपदिक) + smṛti (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: śruti-smṛtiṣu parā = 'based on/intent on śruti and smṛti'; qualifies vārttām

• śubhām: auspicious
• śubhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies vārttām

• provāca: declared/told
• provāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaṃkaraḥ: Śaṅkara
• śaṃkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bodhayan: instructing/causing to understand
• bodhayan: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: budh (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ-प्रत्यय, वर्तमानकाले), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with śaṃkaraḥ

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• uttamam: supreme
• uttamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies jñānam

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakshinamurti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights that Śiva’s instruction is not mere storytelling but Śruti–Smṛti-aligned, auspicious guidance culminating in “uttama jñāna,” the liberating knowledge that turns the soul toward Pati (Śiva) and mokṣa.

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

By presenting Śaṅkara as the direct teacher of the highest knowledge, it supports Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva as the compassionate Guru—through which the devotee is led from outward worship (such as Liṅga-upāsanā) toward inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to receiving and contemplating Śiva’s teaching; a practical takeaway is daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with focused listening/reflecting (śravaṇa–manana) on Śaiva scripture-based guidance.