Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34

शिवस्तुतिवर्णनम् (Śiva-stuti-varṇanam) — “Description of Hymns in Praise of Śiva”

Devanagari script

शिव उवाच । ज्ञातं मयेदमधुना देवकार्यं सुरेश्वर । विष्णोर्मायाबलं चैव नारदस्य च धीमतः

Transliteration

śiva uvāca | jñātaṃ mayedamadhunā devakāryaṃ sureśvara | viṣṇormāyābalaṃ caiva nāradasya ca dhīmataḥ

Translation

湿婆说道：噢，诸天之主，如今我已明了这项神圣之事；也明了毗湿奴之幻力（māyā）的威能，以及智者那罗陀洞察分明的用意。

Word by Word

• śivaḥ: Shiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (शिव)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच्)
• Form: Lit (Perfect/लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• jñātam: known
• jñātam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñā (ज्ञा)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular, Past Passive Participle (क्त)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Kartari (Agent/कर्तरि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम्)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• adhunā: now
• adhunā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhunā (अधुना)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• devakāryam: task of the gods
• devakāryam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devakārya (देवकार्य)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sureśvara: O Lord of gods
• sureśvara: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sureśvara (सुरेश्वर)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular

• viṣṇoḥ: of Vishnu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (विष्णु)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• māyābalam: power of illusion
• māyābalam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyābala (मायाबल)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (एव)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• nāradasya: of Narada
• nāradasya: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (नारद)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• dhīmataḥ: of the wise
• dhīmataḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (धीमत्)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra
• Vishnu
• Narada

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s omniscient clarity: the divine “task” unfolds through māyā and wise agency, yet Shiva—Pati (the Lord)—fully comprehends and governs the deeper purpose beyond appearances.

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

As Saguna Shiva, he speaks and acts within the cosmic narrative to guide the devas; Linga-worship trains the devotee to recognize that behind shifting māyā stands the steady reality of Shiva, the supreme controller.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady discernment (viveka), contemplating māyā as transient and Shiva as the abiding Lord who reveals the true divine intent.