Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

सत्यप्रतिज्ञा-तपःसंवादः

Pārvatī’s Vow of Truth and the Dialogue on Her Tapas

Devanagari script

कपालधारी सर्पौघैस्सर्वगात्रेषु वेष्टितः । विषदिग्धोऽभक्ष्यभक्षो विरूपाक्षो विभीषणः

Transliteration

kapāladhārī sarpaughaissarvagātreṣu veṣṭitaḥ | viṣadigdho'bhakṣyabhakṣo virūpākṣo vibhīṣaṇaḥ

Translation

يحمل الكَبَالَة، كأس الجمجمة، وجسده كلّه ملتفّ بأسرابٍ من الحيّات. كأنه مطليّ بالسمّ، ويأكل حتى ما حُرّم أكله؛ عيناه عجيبتان لا نظير لهما، وهيئته مهيبة—مرعبة للجهل، مقدّسة للمحبّ المتعبّد.

Word by Word

• कपालधारी: skull-bearer
• कपालधारी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल (प्रातिपदिक) + धारिन् (धृ धातु + इनि कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘कपालं धारयति/यस्य’

• सर्पौघैः: by masses of serpents
• सर्पौघैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक) + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘सर्पाणाम् ओघः’ (a mass of serpents)

• सर्वगात्रेषु: on all limbs
• सर्वगात्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘सर्वाणि गात्राणि’

• वेष्टितः: wrapped/encircled
• वेष्टितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेष्ट् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘wrapped/encircled’

• विषदिग्धः: smeared with poison
• विषदिग्धः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष (प्रातिपदिक) + दिग्ध (दह्/दिह् धातु + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘विषेण दिग्धः’ (smeared with poison)

• अभक्ष्यभक्षः: eater of the inedible (and edible)
• अभक्ष्यभक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (अभक्ष्यं च भक्ष्यं च) — one who eats what is inedible and edible

• विरूपाक्षः: the odd/uneven-eyed one
• विरूपाक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘विरूपे अक्षिणी यस्य’

• विभीषणः: terrifying/awe-inspiring
• विभीषणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse portrays Shiva as the Pati (Supreme Lord) who transcends worldly opposites like pure/impure and fearful/beautiful; what seems terrifying to the ego becomes auspicious to the devotee who recognizes Shiva as the liberator.

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

It supports Saguna-upāsanā: devotees contemplate Shiva’s iconographic marks (kapāla, serpents, virūpākṣa) as sacred signs of his lordship over death, time, and poison—then mature toward the Linga as the all-containing symbol of the same Reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva’s fear-transcending form while repeating the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); offer bilva and water with the intent to surrender impurity and fear—seeing Shiva as the one who holds and neutralizes poison.